Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighs in on Carson Hocevar Twitch stream drama: ‘I don’t think he realizes’

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has taken a keen interest in Carson Hocevar, as the 22-year old is making an ascension in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, he’s made a few missteps, on and off the track.

One of those came via Twitch prior to this past weekend’s race in Mexico City. Hocevar made some derogatory comments about the area and event that led to him being hit with a huge fine by Spire Motorsports.

“This whole experience, if the travel was better, if getting here was easier, if you felt safer getting to and from everywhere, if it wasn’t such a s**thole, if the track limits were a little bit better enforced, if it was going to be a little bit better or a race and it wasn’t so easy, or feel so lockdown like you can’t leave anywhere, it would be a great experience. It would be an absolute great experience,” Hocevar stated. “If you take all those out, it’s unbelievable. It’s great.”

While the comments were made prior to last weekend’s race, they surfaced after Hocevar finished P34 at the track. It was evident he wasn’t a fan of the all-important event for the Cup Series, but Earnhardt Jr. is hoping the young man continues to stream and speak his mind moving forward.

“I’ll kind of be surprised if he discontinues his involvement, in terms of streaming weekly, or if he gets advice to do so,” the two-time Daytona 500 champion predicted, via The Dale Jr Download. “But when you get in that situation, when you’re on a stream, there’s people in your chat, normally, those people may also be sim racers, or of the community. There’s this sense that you’re in a room having a conversation with a small group of people. But if you say something that’s a bit controversial like that, it’s coming out of that room quickly.

“It was a mistake that he made. Something he shouldn’t have said. He had to send out an apology of sorts on social media. I read that. I didn’t find his apology cringy. I read that in his voice and I thought, ‘All right, he realizes that was pretty stupid of him to do.’ Can he do what he wants to do, stream, sim-race, all those things — can he do those things, continue to sort of be who he wants to be, because he doesn’t want to change who he is, but minimize the missteps. Minimize the distraction.

“I was saying it after the race Sunday, this kid writes a new chapter of comedic eras every week. I’d like him to keep doing it till we’re done broadcasting races at TNT.”

What it boils down to for Earnhardt Jr. is that Hocevar simply is not realizing his reach as he grows into his success. Twitch isn’t an echo chamber. What he says is going to get some play, especially if it’s controversial.

“I actually don’t want him to stop streaming. I’d prefer that he continue to do that because it’s something unique to him,” the NASCAR Hall of Famer added. “Not a lot of drivers stream. … I don’t think he can have an understanding of really the reach, right?

“So, when he’s having a conversation or sitting on his stream talking to his buddies, he feels like he’s in an insulated, protected space. He doesn’t — I don’t think he realizes how quickly or easily that conversation can become a public thing.”

All told, Carson Hocevar’s comments became an expensive mistake for him. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been impressed with his ability on the track in 2025, and he still believes in the young wheelman’s future, even if it’s all been a bit rocky this season.