Kyle Larson trolls Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after Carson Hocevar incident, drawing fresh attention to ongoing tensions in the NASCAR Cup Series. The playful jab followed a controversial spin in Mexico City that further fueled an existing feud between Stenhouse Jr. and Hocevar, creating notable ripples in the racing community.
Lively Social Media Banter Follows Race Day Drama
Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recently spent time with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a meetup that became the stage for Larson’s online mischief. Larson posted an Instagram photo featuring the trio and poked fun at Stenhouse Jr., referencing the driver’s recent frustration on the track. This light-hearted public tease came at a tense moment, following the highly charged Mexico City event.
The incident unfolded during Sunday’s historic race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series event held internationally since 1958. In a pivotal moment, Carson Hocevar made contact with Stenhouse Jr.’s #47 Chevy Camaro ZL1, sending him spinning and changing the race’s dynamic. The altercation left Stenhouse Jr. furious with the Spire Motorsports driver and sparked a heated exchange after the race.
“I’m going to beat your a** when we get back to the States.”
—Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NASCAR Driver
Larson seized the opportunity for playful mockery, sharing a caption that highlighted Stenhouse Jr.’s anger. This move quickly garnered attention across the racing community.
Race Performance and Standings Intensify Emotions
The Mexico City race proved challenging for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He started the 100-lap contest at the back of the lineup in position 33, clocking a best lap of 94.15 seconds and reaching a top speed of 92.53 mph. This time placed him 1.38 seconds behind the pole sitter, Shane van Gisbergen.
After his sluggish start and subsequent spin, Stenhouse Jr. completed the 241.7-mile race in 27th place, barely edging ahead of his teammate Austin Dillon. Notably, Kyle Larson finished even further back in 36th, trailing Carson Hocevar by two positions. This result underscored the frustrations and competitive pressures building among the drivers, especially after repeated incidents.
Expert Perspectives on Handling On-Track Tensions
NASCAR analyst Jeff Gluck addressed the ongoing feud between Stenhouse Jr. and Hocevar in a recent episode of ‘The Teardown.’ Gluck emphasized that Stenhouse Jr. took the right approach by not escalating the situation into a physical confrontation on foreign soil. He cautioned the potential dangers of doing so in Mexico.
“Smart move by the way. Do not get yourself arrested in Mexico and find yourself in a Mexican prison while everybody else in the industry leaves for assaulting somebody, you don’t know the laws here,” he said via Youtube/The Teardown. [57:05 onwards]
—Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Journalist
The spin at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez marked the second time in the last three races that Hocevar spun out Stenhouse Jr., heightening the latter’s frustration and prompting another post-race confrontation. Gluck reflected on Stenhouse Jr.’s mindset, pointing out the mounting pressure and expectations after such repeated incidents.
“In Ricky’s mind he’s going to say “Well now if I don’t follow through, I said, “Okay I’ll listen to this and it doesn’t do us any good but if you do it again”, now he did it again and now he’s been captured on audio. And Carson’s like, yeah I screwed up but it doesn’t matter at this point,” Gluck added.
—Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Journalist
This ongoing rivalry has become a defining narrative for the 2025 Cup Series. So far, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. holds 21st place in the championship standings with 312 points. Over 16 starts, he has managed two top-ten finishes and one top-five, reflecting a season shaped by persistent on-track clashes and intensifying rivalries.
Feud’s Broader Impact and Future Implications
The Mexico City race and subsequent fallout have spotlighted the tension simmering between key NASCAR figures like Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Carson Hocevar, and Kyle Larson. The repeated incidents and public exchanges, coupled with Larson’s lighthearted jab, have inserted new energy into the 2025 season’s emerging storylines. As NASCAR returns to domestic tracks, the racing community will closely watch how these hostilities unfold and whether they further affect championship prospects for all involved.
