CHICAGO — Carson Hocevar triggered a multi-car wreck on Lap 3 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course, taking out Austin Dillon and igniting frustration in the garage.
The incident added to Hocevar’s growing reputation for aggressive driving and further strained his relationships with fellow competitors, including Chevrolet teammate Dillon.
The race, won by Shane van Gisbergen for his third career Cup Series victory, saw Ty Gibbs finish second, followed by Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch. Hocevar’s early mistake in Turn 10 sent his No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet spinning, collecting Dillon’s No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and several others, ending Dillon’s day prematurely. Hocevar finished 35th, while Dillon finished 36th.
Immediately after the wreck, Dillon vented to his spotter over the radio.
“The biggest dumbass in the entire sport” – Austin Dillon on Carson Hocevar
Dillon criticized Hocevar’s reckless move, which wiped out “half the field,” highlighting the mounting frustration with the 22-year-old’s driving style. Hocevar, a rising star in his second Cup season, has drawn ire for his aggressive tactics, often described as dirty by competitors. This season, he has repeatedly clashed with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., including incidents at Nashville and Mexico City, where Hocevar’s bumper sent Stenhouse spinning, reigniting a feud that culminated in heated post-race confrontations.
Dillon, no stranger to controversy himself, has his own history of aggressive driving. Last year, he faced backlash for incidents with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano, earning a reputation for hard-nosed racing. The Hocevar-Dillon wreck marks another chapter in Chevy’s internal tensions, as Hocevar’s actions have previously frustrated other Chevrolet drivers, including Ross Chastain, his mentor, who confronted him after an Atlanta incident earlier this year.
The garage’s patience with Hocevar is wearing thin. His bold, unapologetic style, while earning him two top-five finishes this season, including a runner-up at Nashville, has made him a polarizing figure. Off the track, Hocevar’s antics as an internet troll have further fueled controversy. Weeks ago, Spire Motorsports fined him $50,000 and mandated cultural sensitivity training after he made derogatory comments about Mexico City on a Twitch livestream during NASCAR’s inaugural Cup race there. The fine was donated to Mexican charities, but the incident underscored Hocevar’s tendency to stir trouble both on and off the track.
With the playoffs looming, Hocevar, sitting 20th in the standings, remains winless, intensifying the pressure to balance aggression with discipline. Dillon, also outside the playoff cutline, faces similar urgency. The Chicago incident, occurring on a tight street course known for chaos, has amplified calls for Hocevar to rein in his reckless tendencies. As NASCAR heads to Dover, the young driver’s ability to mend fences and refine his approach will be critical to his future success on track, in a sport that values respect as much as results.
Ah, just kidding. Drivers these days rarely back up their bark on the race track. How many times did we see Ross Chastain turn someone in 2022 before anyone retaliated? Exactly…
Hocevar needs to keep being himself and Dillon needs to focus on the playoff bubble. Although, it would likely benefit both to race a bit cleaner in their attempts to make the playoffs this final stretch.
What do you think about the incident? Should Hocevar reign it in a little bit, keep being himself or totally calm down altogether?
What about Austin Dillon? Is the RCR driver a hypocrite after Richmond or does he have a point here?
Let us know in the comments!
Meanwhile …
Social Media reacted to a stunning podium for a German F1 veteran on Sunday, check it out here.
Austin Dillon is winless so far in 2025, but has an opportunity to repeat his Richmond success in August.
