SONOMA, Calif. — The NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday turned chaotic when Josh Berry, piloting the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, intentionally spun Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in Turn 11 during the Toyota/Save Mart 350. The incident, which occurred late in Stage 3 on Lap 92, added fuel to Hocevar’s reputation as a magnet for controversy, with many in the NASCAR community viewing it as long-overdue payback. Josh Berry and Carson Hocevar, who woulda thought.
Hocevar, known for his aggressive driving and knack for stirring drama, has ruffled feathers across the Cup Series. Earlier incidents, including wrecking Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in Nashville and Mexico City, have made the 22-year-old a target. Berry, a Cup Series veteran with a recent win at Las Vegas, appeared to seize the moment to settle a score. As Hocevar exited Turn 11, Berry hooked his right rear, sending the No. 77 spinning into the dirt. No caution flag was waved, but the move cost Hocevar several positions, finishing 28th.
Oh, Carson Hocevar.
Social media posts on X erupted, with fans and analysts split. Some called Berry’s move a deliberate takeout, pointing to Hocevar’s history of reckless driving, including a prior incident at Talladega where Berry accidentally clipped Hocevar’s tire changer. Others labeled Berry’s actions unsportsmanlike, arguing it was a dangerous maneuver that could warrant a suspension. Despite the debate, NASCAR deemed the contact within racing bounds, citing no clear violation of the rulebook.
Hocevar, often a fan favorite for his humor and brash personality, took the incident in stride, acknowledging his role in creating enemies on the track. His aggressive style, which led to a career-best second-place finish at Atlanta earlier this year, has drawn criticism from veterans like Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney. Yet, Hocevar’s antics, paired with his undeniable talent, keep him at the center of NASCAR’s spotlight.
Berry, unfazed by the backlash, rallied to a solid fifth-place finish, bolstering his playoff contention. The incident underscored the simmering tensions in the Cup Series as drivers jostle for position with the postseason looming. For Hocevar, the spin served as a reminder that his aggressive approach comes with consequences, even as fans on X found humor in his knack for sparking drama.
As the Cup Series heads to Dover, the Berry-Hocevar clash adds another chapter to NASCAR’s ongoing saga of rivalries and retribution. Whether Hocevar retaliates or continues to embrace his role as the sport’s provocateur remains to be seen, but Sunday’s incident at Sonoma ensured his name stays in the headlines.
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