Ryan Preece and Carson Hocevar collided emotionally and physically at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend, turning what could have been strong finishes into a fiery, disappointing wreck that left both drivers reeling. The high-stakes clash unfolded late in the race, just after a caution involving Jesse Love disrupted the order, with both Preece and Hocevar finding themselves unexpectedly caught in the midfield. Though both drivers had flashes of brilliance—Hocevar starting from his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series pole and Preece steadily climbing through the ranks—the race ultimately nosedived into chaos and acrimony, with each emerging from the wreckage frustrated and seeking answers.
The conflict peaked on Lap 238, as the two exited Turn 2. Carson Hocevar, who had already lost a lap in the chaos of pit strategies, got tight and drifted wide, striking Ryan Preece and sending both into the wall. The incident collected other cars, intensifying the fallout. Preece, visibly angry, didn’t mince words in his post-crash remarks at the infield care center. Speaking to FOX Sports, he vented,
The sting in Ryan Preece’s words underscored the level of frustration and distrust simmering between the two drivers.
Meanwhile, Hocevar finished a disappointing 24th and Preece recorded a DNF in 29th, both drivers left with scars from a race filled with missed opportunity. The tension didn’t dissolve after the checkered flag, but instead carried over to the following weekend at Kansas, where Carson Hocevar addressed the incident publicly. In a press conference, Hocevar revealed he and Ryan Preece had spoken since the Texas drama, trying to clear the air.
said Hocevar, describing the conversation.
Hocevar gave his side of the Texas crash, detailing how his surprise at Ryan Preece’s positioning contributed to the incident:
The reflective tone suggested both drivers now recognize the reality that aggressive racing has consequences, and that mutual understanding, even if uneasy, is necessary if they hope to avoid further costly collisions.
This isn’t the first turbulent exchange between the pair; Ryan Preece has previously criticized Hocevar for aggressive driving, calling him out after a heated wreck during a 2022 Truck Series race at Charlotte. While history between them is strained, Hocevar emphasized their shared goal not to ruin each other’s momentum as the season advances, acknowledging both have been performing better than many expected. With championship implications on the line, the situation is far from resolved, but both have at least expressed a desire to move forward, wary of letting conflict compound their misfortune.
The aftermath of the Texas NASCAR clash will likely linger, as Ryan Preece and Carson Hocevar process conflicted emotions and contemplate what this fiery encounter means for their ongoing seasons. Their willingness to talk signals potential maturity and growth, but with aggressive driving and pent-up rivalries always at play, the road ahead remains uncertain. The next races will reveal whether their uneasy truce holds—or if tensions will again explode under the lights of NASCAR’s biggest arenas.
