Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of HYAK Motorsports has openly expressed his frustration about the ongoing rivalry with Carson Hocevar following another heated exchange at the NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City. The tension between the two drivers intensified during this inaugural points-paying event outside the United States, after Hocevar spun out Stenhouse Jr. for the second time in the last three races.
The dramatic incident occurred with only 10 laps left at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, disrupting what had been a promising run for Stenhouse Jr. Previously, the drivers had addressed earlier contact at Nashville Superspeedway, where Stenhouse’s #47 car was hit by Hocevar’s #77 car. According to Stenhouse Jr., he had been on pace to secure a finish inside the top 20 until the late-race spin, a blow that resulted in losing valuable points in the series standings.
Making matters worse, Shane van Gisbergen clinched victory in Mexico City, which ultimately knocked Stenhouse Jr. below the elimination cut line by 61 points, putting a significant dent in his playoff aspirations. Stenhouse Jr., who has responded to the media about the situation repeatedly in recent weeks, made it clear he wants to move on from the ongoing feud.
“For me, I’m tired of giving the kid any publicity, anyway, I don’t know how it’s going to play itself out, but it will.”
—Ricky Stenhouse Jr., HYAK Motorsports
Stenhouse Jr. doubled down on his focus to recover in the championship standings, stating his determination to fight back despite the added setback from van Gisbergen’s win.
“I don’t know where it goes or what happens, but we’ve got a job to do over here, and that’s to claw our way back in the points. That line got tougher with SVG winning. We know next weekend is a very good opportunity for us to get the job done and win,”
he added. —Ricky Stenhouse Jr., HYAK Motorsports
Looking ahead, both Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar will have a new opportunity to chase crucial championship points at the Great American Getaway 400 set for Sunday, June 22.
Carson Hocevar Shares Perspective on Feud After Mexico Clash
Carson Hocevar has also acknowledged the growing intensity of his rivalry with Stenhouse Jr., especially after their confrontation during the landmark NASCAR Cup race in Mexico City. Hocevar’s move to spin Stenhouse late in the race followed on from previous issues between the drivers, notably their run-in at Nashville.
Before heading into the Pocono race, Hocevar reflected on how the situation unfolded and the difficulty of repairing the relationship, explaining there’s little he can say to fix what’s happened.
“Unfortunately, I’m not sure what I would say. There’s nothing that really would change it. We’ve already had that conversation (before Michigan). We have a good relationship — or had one. Just locked up in a very dumb spot. Was just so dumb. Just a mistake that didn’t need to happen and didn’t want it to happen. There’s nothing I can do or say. I can’t go buy him a Hallmark card and make it better.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
After the race in Mexico, tensions spilled over as Stenhouse Jr. confronted Hocevar on pit road, expressing anger about the repeated run-ins and suggesting that payback may be coming once the series returns to US tracks.
Playoff Implications and What Lies Ahead in the NASCAR Cup Series
The disputes between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar have significant implications for the remainder of the NASCAR Cup season. With Stenhouse Jr. now 61 points adrift from playoff contention and the rivalry continuing to escalate, both drivers are under additional pressure as the competition heads to key races like the Great American Getaway 400.
As NASCAR fans turn their attention to upcoming events, this ongoing rivalry remains one of the most closely watched storylines, with Stenhouse Jr. seeking to regain lost ground and Hocevar trying to avoid further controversy. The coming races will test each driver’s resolve and could reshape the playoff picture as the season progresses.
