Carson Hocevar Out Early from Xfinity COTA Race

“I didn’t have a radio for the whole first part, so part of it is probably on me,” Hocevar shared on The CW after leaving the infield care center. “Unfortunate end, but bright side is that I have four more laps of experience so I’m excited. Unfortunate for (SS Greenlight) to get that finish, but the ultimate goal for them was to make the race. If we get to go again, hopefully we can be better next time.

“I couldn’t get (the engine) to recycle and refire, so I didn’t know if it knocked the radiator out. If it did, I didn’t know if I was leaking fluid or anything. I didn’t know how hard it really was, and it kind of wedged me under (the tire barrier). I couldn’t hear anything, and (the team is) on a tight budget. If I was leaking or there was an issue, I wouldn’t have known. Plus too, I wouldn’t have been able to communicate that, ‘Hey, I’m going to need a push or a way to refire this,’ because I didn’t know if they could hear me. Once I was in the tire barrier, I felt like it was done. I wanted it to be on the side of caution for them, and ultimately didn’t tear up a motor for the next time they have to run it.”

Dubbed by Brad Perez as the “Mario Kart Shortcut”, it was this turn that many drivers focused on for variables and unknowns going into the weekend. NASCAR added a tire stack on the inside of the turn to help with visibility of the apex and to proactively prevent gravel being kicked up onto the racing surface.

Burton shared his vantage point, holding the inside line when contact was made.

“He’s not going to chop my nose every time he goes through there,” said the Jordan Anderson Racing driver. “The lap before, he about put me in the outside retaining wall. I get under him there, and he acts like I’m not there.”

Part two of Hocevar’s double duty in Austin, Texas will start tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. CT on Fox for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. He qualified fourth.