Carson Hocevar has been open about the difficulties he faced in the NASCAR In-Season Challenge, especially after a tense moment at the Quaker State 400 on June 4 at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. Despite not being a top contender initially, Hocevar found himself deeply involved in the tournament, where a mental mistake almost derailed his progress.
During the first round, many predicted that Ryan Blaney, a driver with a stronger track record than Hocevar, would easily advance. Blaney, however, was taken out by a crash on Lap 57, which unexpectedly gave Hocevar an advantage. Still, shortly after, Hocevar spun out himself and feared his run was over, yet he managed to recover and finish 10th, clinching the win over Blaney.
I remember at Atlanta, when Blaney wrecked, it was just like, oh, okay, well I guess we’re moving on no matter how this race goes,
Hocevar told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
And then we wrecked. I was like, well, at least we’re moving on. And then we got back to tenth. But for a minute there in that wreck, I thought we were done. I was like, well, at least we’re moving on.
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
The $1 million prize attached to the In-Season Challenge has introduced a new dynamic for the drivers. Hocevar noted that even a less-than-ideal finish could still leave a driver feeling positive as long as they advance in their matchup.
It could get to where you might be disappointed finishing eighth or even fifteenth or whatever it is, but then you’re like, oh, well, at least we moved on. So, it kind of can raise your spirits a little bit, I guess.
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
Upcoming Matchup Against Tyler Reddick on Chicago’s Street Course
Following his narrow escape in Atlanta, Hocevar is set to face Tyler Reddick in the next round of the challenge at Chicago’s street course. Reddick is known for his strength on road courses, making the upcoming duel a significant test for Hocevar as the clear underdog again.
In last year’s Chicago race, Hocevar showed promise before a minor collision dropped him to 24th place. Planning to improve on that, Hocevar, along with his crew chief Luke Lambert, is focused on both winning the race itself and advancing in the tournament.
Ultimately, we want to do everything to try and win the race. If we win the race, make the playoffs, that’s huge. You automatically beat the 45 car in the tournament, right? But yeah, it’s good to, number one, move on.
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
Though Hocevar expressed some regret at not having the chance to race against Blaney head-to-head, he emphasized the enjoyment he finds in the tournament format. Now in his second full-time season in the Cup Series, Hocevar has claimed two runner-up finishes and also earned a Truck Series victory at Kansas in May.
Despite a reputation for aggressive driving, Hocevar’s steady improvement is evident as he sits 14th in the championship points standings. He remains optimistic about advancing past Reddick in the Chicago matchup and continuing his pursuit of a first Cup Series win in this challenging tournament.