Brad Keselowski confronted Carson Hocevar on pit road following the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, triggered by a contentious on-track incident. The tension arose after Hocevar slowed in front of Keselowski during a qualifying lap, provoking the veteran driver to chase Hocevar once they returned to pit road.
Keselowski described the situation, explaining,
“On the track, I was just trying to get out of Carson’s way, but then Carson thought I had blocked him,”
to TNT Sports. The disagreement escalated when Hocevar’s unexpected slowdown during qualifying disrupted Keselowski’s lap.
Video footage captured Keselowski sprinting toward Hocevar in the pits to confront him directly. When asked if Hocevar grasped the message Keselowski delivered, the driver replied,
“Well, probably not,”
and quickly moved past the confrontation, adding,
“I’m over it. We race today.”
Hocevar’s Recent On-Track Controversies
Sunday’s race kicked off amid the uncertain atmosphere around these two drivers, especially with Hocevar, who has been at the center of multiple disputes this NASCAR season. His aggressive driving style has led to several collisions and confrontations throughout the year.
Just days before at Iowa Speedway, Hocevar was involved in a wreck with driver Zane Smith on Lap 229, which sparked a confrontation between Hocevar and Smith’s crew chief, Ryan Bergenty, on pit road. Despite the friction, Hocevar appeared unfazed by the fallout, posting a defiant message on Instagram paired with the song IDGAF by Drake and a ticket counter graphic with the caption “please take a number.”
Potential Fallout and What’s Next for the Drivers
The ongoing tension between Keselowski and Hocevar adds a layer of anticipation to the remainder of the race season. With Keselowski visibly upset and Hocevar maintaining a bold attitude, fans and teams alike will watch closely to see if this confrontation affects their future interactions on the track.
Given Hocevar’s history of clashes, including the latest incident at Watkins Glen, it remains uncertain whether this dispute will escalate or settle quietly. As the race progresses, both drivers will have the opportunity to settle their differences in competition, and the outcome could have implications for their reputations and standings within the NASCAR Cup Series.