Dale Earnhardt Jr. and TJ Majors discussed the heated exchange between Brad Keselowski and Carson Hocevar that took place during qualifying at Watkins Glen this past weekend. The conversation unfolded on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, where Earnhardt and Majors responded to Keselowski’s confrontation with Hocevar following the qualifying session. This discussion highlights the intensity of the Brad Keselowski Carson Hocevar conflict as tensions boiled over on the track.

The Spotter’s Perspective on the Qualifying Incident

TJ Majors, who serves as Keselowski’s spotter, indicated that Hocevar appeared to intentionally disrupt Keselowski’s qualifying lap. Majors expressed disbelief at Hocevar’s behavior toward other drivers over the last two years.

I’ve never seen anybody get as much stuff as he’s tore up and people he’s pi–ed off over the last two years, or even more than that.

Majors stated regarding Hocevar’s track conduct. He added that it was hard to understand how someone would want to sabotage another driver’s qualifying attempt deliberately.

Majors further explained his viewpoint on Hocevar’s tactics and Keselowski’s response, stating,

Him waiting for Brad and Brad getting so mad, I didn’t know Brad was mad. He never said anything on the radio or nothing. …That just shows you what type of person Carson is to me. You want to like him so bad, but then he goes and does stuff like this. He has made so many mistakes, and we made a conscious effort to get out of his way and make sure we didn’t mess him up.

This reveals the frustration Keselowski’s team felt over Hocevar’s actions during qualifying.

Before Majors shared his thoughts, Dale Earnhardt Jr. questioned why Keselowski was so angry and whether Hocevar perceived Keselowski’s actions similarly. Earnhardt supported Majors’ take by pointing out that Keselowski’s qualifying lap appeared to be unaffected.

Carson Hocevar Responds to Clash Questions

Video footage capturing the Keselowski-Hocevar confrontation emerged shortly before the race on Sunday, bringing greater attention to the incident. On the following Wednesday, Hocevar addressed the media to explain his side, expressing confusion about Keselowski’s displeasure.

I didn’t really understand why he was so upset because we were upset at him,

Hocevar said, according to NASCAR.com. He further added,

I think just emotions get high in qualifying. I felt like we started our lap, and he was kind of in the way, or just let us go in a really bad spot that I felt like it impeded our lap. As we’re doing our cool-down lap, I didn’t want to swerve out of his way or anything going down the backstretch, and I just stayed in line and had him go around me. I think everybody didn’t know the full story, potentially, right? You just get done with your lap, and you feel like somebody gets in your way. I was frustrated. Our group was frustrated, and then, obviously, he was frustrated with us.

Hocevar’s remarks suggest that the conflict stemmed from both drivers’ frustrations during a tense qualifying session rather than a clear attempt to sabotage.

Implications for Both Drivers Ahead of Upcoming Races

Both Brad Keselowski and Carson Hocevar currently find themselves outside the playoff positions in the NASCAR Cup Series. With their playoff hopes on the line, each driver needs a victory in one of the next two events to secure a championship berth. The immediate challenge awaits at Richmond Raceway, where the next race is scheduled for Saturday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET. This ongoing conflict will likely add to the intensity of their competition as they vie for a crucial win.