Katherine Legge again finished ahead of Carson Hocevar in the latest NASCAR Cup event at Sonoma Raceway, maintaining her unbroken record of surpassing him in every Cup race both have qualified for. The curious trend in Carson Hocevar NASCAR Cup race results has now stretched to four races, raising questions about the rivalry’s trajectory as they prepare to face off again.
Legge’s Ongoing Edge Over Hocevar
At Sonoma Raceway, Legge finished just outside the top 30, but it was enough to beat Hocevar by one position. So far, whenever Legge has entered a Cup Series event, she has managed to outplace her fellow competitor. This ongoing pattern dates to their first shared event at Phoenix Raceway, where Legge’s Cup Series debut was full of challenges—she spun several times and was involved in a late crash with Daniel Suarez. Despite her troubles and a last-place starting position in 37th, Legge was credited with finishing 30th after a DNF, while Hocevar, who had started as high as third on the grid, crashed out early and landed in 36th place.
Legge’s margin over Hocevar continued in the Mexico City round, where both drivers completed the race a lap behind the main pack. Even though Legge faced mechanical issues, Hocevar’s contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the closing laps dropped him to 34th—two spots down from Legge.
During the Chicago street race, Hocevar’s campaign was marred by an accident in the opening laps, which triggered a major multi-car pile-up. This incident forced him to retire early with a 35th-place result out of 40 starters, while Legge, having begun the race from 33rd, brought home her first top-20 finish in the Cup Series.
Watkins Glen: A New Chapter Looms
The next Cup Series stop takes the rivalry to Watkins Glen International. Legge, with her significant experience on road courses thanks to her IMSA background, enters with a perceived advantage. Expectations are high as observers look to see if the trend of Legge leading Hocevar will hold or if the tables might finally turn.
Hocevar’s Reflections on Mistakes and Consequences
Carson Hocevar discussed his problematic Mexico City performance and his on-track clash with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during an appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast. He gave an introspective take on the event and shared how the incident unfolded:
“I’m just the biggest brain fade ever. I just got in the corner and I was just like, “Oh, there’s a corner here.” And so, I went to the brakes. I locked up. I just got I just kind of got zoned out. I was just like, you know, just just banging gears. Just like, oh, now it’s like five to go.” [59:30 onwards]
—Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Driver
“And I’m just like, caution’s not going to come out. Just Yep. Yep. Yep. You know, this feels normal. Oh, and for a minute, my guys thought I like passed out because my car just goes straight. And I am legitimately in there holding the wheel straight, either getting ready to turn right to go to the garage right there. Not actually, but I was just literally just sitting there,” Carson Hocevar added.
—Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Driver
This was not the first controversial moment involving Hocevar and Stenhouse, as it marked the second sharp run-in over the span of three races and led to a direct post-race confrontation between the drivers in Mexico City.
The Impact on Standings and What Lies Ahead
Following another difficult finish at Sonoma, Hocevar has slipped below Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the driver’s points standings. While Stenhouse has refrained from retaliating on the track so far, the ongoing incidents add an intense note to Hocevar’s rookie campaign with Spire Motorsports.
The next matchup at Watkins Glen is highly anticipated, as both Legge and Hocevar seek better results and aim to prove themselves on the challenging road course. As their rivalry continues, the question remains: will Katherine Legge extend her unbeaten run, or can Carson Hocevar finally shift the narrative in his favor?
