NASCAR Veteran Says Carson Hocevar Needs His Own Dale Earnhardt Moment

Hocevar was fined $50,000 following the Cup Series race at Kansas for a behavioural infraction. His reputation of being an aggressive driver continues tagging to his back despite this being his second full-time season in the top level. Baldwin's solution could work wonders, as it has in the past. But who should have that chat with him?

Does Hocevar Really Respect Anybody?

Freddie Kraft, who was conversing with Baldwin on the podcast, revealed how a talk with Dale Earnhardt Jr. had humbled Hocevar a few years ago.

The youngster had told the story himself and Kraft relayed it, "He said he walked into the shop, at the time he was running trucks, and starting to get into Xfinity a little bit. The first thing Dale [Earnhardt Jr.] said to him is, ‘You’re not coming over here to crash all my [expletive], are you?’ That hit him hard."

Junior was one of Hocevar's heroes, and the sudden realization that he did not have the icon's respect had stung him badly. Kraft believes that those words made him stay within his lines for a while and race without making trouble.

Hocevar now stands at a crucial point in his fledgling career. He boasts raw speed but still needs a ton of restraint. Baldwin's words reflect what many in the NASCAR garage believe. Hocevar's biggest obstacle isn't the driver racing next to him, but himself. With the right mentor, he could climb to greatness one day using the same fire he has in his heart now.