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Kevin Harvick Claims NASCAR World Doesn't Respect 1 Driver

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 11:13 PM ET

Kevin Harvick wasn't afraid to put a NASCAR Cup Series driver on blast during Tuesday's episode of his "Happy Hour" podcast.

During the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway this past weekend, Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. found themselves at the center of the latest NASCAR controversy. Hocevar clearly rode into the back of Stenhouse's vehicle on Lap 106 in Stage 2.

"Well, I hear a guy that doesn’t know that he ran into the back of somebody and wrecked them. Hey, I’ll call it like it is. I like Hocevar a lot. Kid’s awesome. Ran second tonight," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Sunday. "I like his attitude, I like his personality, and I like his style. But yeah, I think he could have cut the 47 a break, and he chose not to do that."

On Tuesday's "Happy Hour" episode, Harvick offered his thoughts on Hocevar's antics.

Harvick suggested that Hocevar isn't respected by his peers in the garage. He claims that's due to the 22-year-old driver's aggressive style of racing.

"I don’t think he has the respect of the garage right now, personally," Harvick said, via On3. "They’re going to like him less because he’s faster than them and that sometimes in itself without running over people, pisses people off because he’s going to take someone’s spot. He’s not going anywhere because he’s going faster than they are."

Hocevar is coming off a second-place finish at Nashville, but he's still outside of the top 16 in the Cup Series standings.

A strong performance on Sunday at Michigan would help Hocevar's rank - even if it comes at the cost of earning his opponents' respect.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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