Carson Hocevar Needs ‘Attitude Adjustment’ Insinuates NASCAR Veteran

The point was clear. Talent isn’t enough. Hocevar needs guidance and accountability. And from someone he himself respects. He needs someone with experience to push him, to challenge him, and to make sure he stays on the right path. Co-host Freddie Kraft explained the reasoning: “We’ve been hard on them all year … the reason … is because you (Leigh) know how good he is.”

The problems with Hocevar have continued on the track. At Kansas, NASCAR fined Hocevar $50,000 after he spun and then revved his tires while safety workers were nearby. It was another moment showing that raw talent can’t cover for lapses in control or awareness.

Even so, not all feedback has been critical. Some veterans notice growth when he tempers his aggression. Tommy Baldwin Jr., after a clean race at New Hampshire, had kind words for him. “He didn’t run into anybody … he ran in the top 10 all day … did a good job.” That comment highlighted the potential when Hocevar balances skill with discipline. So, the conclusion? It’s all there, he just needs some guidance to bring that side out.

Hocevar responds to the latest $50,000 fine

“I fired it up just to throw it into neutral,” Hocevar explained. “It’s sometimes hard to get these things into neutral so I fired it up. Honestly, I didn’t know it spun the tires. Obviously, there’s a tow truck in front of me so I’m not going anywhere.” He stressed that the action was unintentional and part of a routine procedure, not an attempt to disobey safety protocols.

Hocevar acknowledged the lesson learned. “It’s educational for me. It’s expensive too. It’s educational for our guys too … I was sitting there in third gear doing a burnout so it’s on me not thinking about the tires spinning,” he said. He also noted NASCAR’s limitations. “They don’t have the intent. They can’t know the plan and story behind everything and judge everything and sometimes they have to call it the way they see it.”

Despite the costly penalty, Hocevar maintained a professional perspective. “It got to like 1200 RPMs right? I just fired it up, threw it into neutral and shut it off, and I didn’t even realize the tires were spinning. They called it right,” he said. The incident was quite the talking point, but Hocevar seems determined to learn and move forward, hopefully taking in some of Baldwin’s advice.