At Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, Josh Berry collided with Carson Hocevar in the closing laps, ending Hocevar’s hopes for a top-10 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series event. With just three laps remaining, Berry’s impact on Hocevar’s right rear quarter panel caused Hocevar’s car to spin into the grass, abruptly halting his race.

The incident sparked immediate reactions, not only from teams and fans but also from Hocevar himself, who addressed the crash during a Twitch stream the following Monday night, expressing surprise and frustration at Berry’s actions.

Carson Hocevar Reacts with Confusion and Frustration on Twitch

During Monday’s Twitch broadcast, Hocevar candidly shared his bewilderment over why Berry chose to spin him out during the race. He expressed that he had done nothing to provoke the move and was shocked that Berry, rather than an expected rival, was the one to cause the wreck.

“I didn’t do anything. I was just like ‘Man, of all people to wreck me.’ I thought it would be somebody like I had it coming. I don’t know what I did. It’s just like, ‘well shit.'” —Carson Hocevar

Hocevar elaborated further on the stream, emphasizing how the collision dashed their progress after a race that had looked promising through strategy and perseverance.

“Why did I get dumped yesterday? I don’t know, I didn’t do anything. I was just like, ‘Man, of all people to wreck me.’ Thought it would be somebody like I had it coming. Don’t know what I did. It’s just like, ‘Well, shit.’ And through strategy, we get to fifth and then I wreck. It’s just like, ‘Ah, whatever.’ But it’s just racing, man. Just racing. It is what it is. I like full contact sport. So, it’s just like, ‘F*ck yeah, man. Let’s get it on.’ That’s what I’ve been dying for. I’ve been giving some and I get some [back], so it’s like, ‘C’mon, let’s go.’ I don’t why it was that corner or what I did.” —Carson Hocevar

Reflecting on an Up-and-Down Day for Hocevar and the Spire Motorsports Team

Hocevar described the day at Sonoma as a rollercoaster, highlighting the sharp contrast between the different race stages. Despite a disastrous start in Stages 1 and 2, the team managed to claw their way back into contention, only to be undone in the final moments.

“I think what’s disappointing is that it was an unbelievably terrible day that we somehow put it together and then it was like, ‘Nope, never mind.’ It was like the opposite of our whole year where Stage 1 and Stage 2, it’s like we’re a top tier team, and then by Stage 3, it’s oh by the way, we’re Spire Motorsports again. Where like this one, I’m just like, ‘Well, this is f*cking hilarious.’ We have the biggest shitshow in Stage 1 and Stage 2 and then we finished eighth. And then it’s like, ‘Oh, never mind, you still finished 32nd. Get f*cked, loser.’ I’m just like, ‘Aw, damn it, that’s lame.'” —Carson Hocevar

Hocevar’s Recent Performance Decline Continues to Impact Playoff Hopes

This result continued a troubling stretch for Hocevar in the NASCAR Cup Series, as he plummeted from eighth place to 32nd within the final laps, marking one of several poor finishes in recent races. He has struggled to maintain consistency, finishing 29th or worse in four of the last six events, severely diminishing his chances of securing a playoff spot this season.

Hocevar’s recent string of mishaps has also drawn criticism and hostility from other competitors. Drivers such as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. have threatened retaliation following prior confrontations, and Austin Dillon recently labeled Hocevar the

biggest dumbass in the entire sport.

Potential for Rivalry as Next Race Approaches at Dover

Many expected that a more familiar competitor would be responsible for spinning Hocevar out, making Berry’s involvement somewhat surprising. At this point, there is no clear indication that a bitter rivalry has erupted between Hocevar and Berry, but fans and analysts will watch closely as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Dover Motor Speedway for the upcoming weekend race.