Kevin Harvick: Carson Hocevar illustrates why people tolerate his drama

Carson Hocevar came close to wrecking his No. 77 Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway, but he made one of the more incredible saves you’ll ever see instead. That helped him finish P18 on the afternoon, which is much better than what could’ve been.

It all illustrated why Kevin Harvick believes teams put up with everything that comes with Hocevar. The aggressive driving, antagonizing his fellow drivers and competing with a reckless abandon — it’s all okay when you employ a wheelman with his level of talent.

“That save by Carson Hocevar, this is why everybody keeps him around,” Harvick proclaimed, via Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. “This is the ability that Hocevar has. I know that the tail just touched the wall, but I mean, this is why everybody tolerates the rest of it. He has this unbelievable skill inside that race car to do things like that. Now, if the wall isn’t there — you can say if the wall isn’t there, he spins out. But either way, I mean, look how long that thing was sideways. He had that thing back under control and going straight. I think he only lost two spots. … He has this unbelievable skill. He’s extremely talented and can do everything that it takes inside of that race car.

“It’s going to be the things outside of the race car that, if he doesn’t get those things under control, they’ll continue to haunt him. He’s still having to deal with the Stenhouse piece of it. That was all they asked about in the media session for both of those guys. Those are the things that just distract the team week after week after week after week. But like I said, that’s why they tolerate it.”

Alas, Hocevar has continually gotten the best out of his car week after week. While the wins haven’t come yet, NASCAR fans, drivers and media members alike can agree that his time in Victory Lane is coming sooner rather than later.

He’s been fast in practice, qualifying and race day. With a host of tracks within his wheelhouse and a yearning to make the playoffs, Hocevar will certainly be giving it his all to make the Top 16, and that might rub some the wrong way.

We’ll see if Carson Hocevar can get the job done. Kevin Harvick has been impressed and will continue to keep an eye on the young wheelman over the rest of the season. He’s certainly been an attention-grabber in 2025.