Carson Hocevar’s pursuit of victory at the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 abruptly ended due to a rare engine failure, an incident that spurred a viral radio outburst and drew widespread attention. The Spire Motorsports driver, speaking publicly for the first time, explained how an engine that literally spun backward under fuel-saving conditions ruined his best chance of the season on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The 22-year-old’s candid breakdown revealed that the issue began when the engine reversed its rotation, a mechanical anomaly linked to the strategy of conserving fuel late in the race. This malfunction shredded internal engine parts, turning what had been a strong run into a crushing disappointment and a 34th-place DNF.
Explaining the Backward Engine Spin and Radio Outburst
In an interview with CBS Sports’ Steven Taranto, Hocevar described the failure as a combination of unfortunate timing and fuel-saving tactics gone wrong. His effort to extend mileage caused the motor to spin in reverse just as he was racing on the front row alongside Denny Hamlin.
Yeah, the bad timing and unlucky of how I was fuel saving that the motor spun backwards. So, unfortunate, but… You move on,
Hocevar stated to Taranto.
The moment of failure sparked an intense radio exchange that quickly became a viral clip. Initially, Hocevar’s spotter thought the car was experiencing a tire rub, but Hocevar’s immediate reaction was a raw outburst: It f***ing blew up! This uncensored reaction spread rapidly on social media, capturing the frustration in the heat of the moment.
When Taranto asked if they laughed about the incident afterward, Hocevar confirmed that they did share some humor about it despite the disappointment.
It sounded like your spotter initially thought that you had a left front tire rub and you told him that yeah the car blew up … Did you guys kind of laugh that off or talk about that at all or was it just kind of an in the moment thing?
I mean, we laughed about it,
Hocevar admitted.
He was trying to tell me that, you know, put my head back and you know just in case we spawned and everything, but yeah we laughed about it.
From Promising Momentum to Sudden Setback at Charlotte
Before the engine failure, Hocevar demonstrated impressive speed and skill during his most competitive race of the year. Starting from 39th position, he made a significant charge through the field, finishing fourth in Stage 2 and third in Stage 3, showing clear potential for a breakthrough result.
Following the race, Hocevar expressed regret on social media about not having the chance to see how far his performance could have taken him.
Just wish we could have had an opportunity to finish that one out and see. Thank you, @chilis and everyone on our 77 group.
The emotional rollercoaster of the night was captured in a social media montage featuring Hocevar confidently flashing a V-sign before the race and later revealing the blown engine with the caption holy f***ing airball.
Reflecting on the failure, Hocevar said the engine blew without warning while he was trying to make a decisive move on the track.
I just blew up. With no real warning,
he said.
Rolling right rear to hopefully take the lead, and all of a sudden, it was full of smoke. It’s unfortunate, our car was really fast.
This disappointing result is part of a difficult stretch for Hocevar, who has recorded six finishes of 24th place or worse since his runner-up at Atlanta.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Highlights Hocevar’s Exceptional Speed Despite Challenges
Despite the setbacks, legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has acknowledged Hocevar’s natural ability to run at elite speeds. He pointed out Hocevar’s raw talent, emphasizing that the young driver has the skill needed but must align other factors to find consistent success.
Some guys have this raw speed that most can’t compete with. He has to get the rest of it tied together — his attitude, personality — he’s energetic, a bit all over the place,
Earnhardt noted.
Charlotte offered a clear glimpse of what Hocevar can achieve when reliability holds. The challenge now lies with Spire Motorsports to resolve these mechanical issues so Hocevar’s speed can translate to solid finishes. This heartbreaking engine failure could ultimately serve as motivation for the young driver’s future breakthroughs on the NASCAR circuit.