Carson Hocevar’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway quickly turned from a strong start into a difficult afternoon. The Spire Motorsports driver spun during the wet opening caution laps before the race even began, then recovered to finish third in Stage 1. But contact with Connor Zilisch on Lap 84 changed the race again.
Hocevar spun on the frontstretch, while Joey Logano and Austin Dillon also went around in the incident. Hocevar later made contact with Zilisch again before suffering another spin on Lap 203. He finished 19th after bringing out two cautions. After the race, Hocevar accepted responsibility for his role in the main incident and explained how he believed his own steering input helped cause the spin.
NASCAR Incident Leaves Carson Hocevar Spinning
The NASCAR race at New Hampshire started in wet conditions after rain delayed the action. Hocevar lost control of his No. 77 Chevrolet during the opening caution laps, forcing officials to continue drying the 1.058-mile track. Once racing began, Hocevar recovered quickly and finished third in Stage 1.
The bigger setback came on Lap 84. Hocevar’s Chevrolet made contact with Zilisch’s No. 88 on the frontstretch, sending Hocevar into a spin. Logano and Dillon also became involved as the field slowed for the caution.
Connor Zilisch Clash Adds More NASCAR Tension
The NASCAR tension between Hocevar and Zilisch continued after the restart. Hocevar raced alongside the rookie before making contact again and moving Zilisch out of the preferred groove in Turn 1. Zilisch’s team told him to stay patient as plenty of racing remained.
Hocevar later addressed the first incident and did not place all the blame on Zilisch.
“Yeah, I think I spun myself. He got into me and I thought I was clear or something. I don’t know what I did, but I turned left to try and get to the bottom and cover it, and I think I pretty much spun myself.”
He also said he was glad the incident did not heavily damage his car.
“Luckily, I didn’t kill my car and ruin another week for us. So, yeah, I just think I spun myself pretty easily.”
Carson Hocevar Admits NASCAR Race Got Away
Hocevar’s problems continued on Lap 203 when his No. 77 spun again, bringing out another caution. The second spin made recovery harder, and he eventually finished 19th. NASCAR confirmed that the result secured Hocevar his first-ever Chase appearance.
After the race, Hocevar again accepted responsibility for the earlier incident.
“No, I just know, I mean, I wrecked myself there. Yeah, I mean, in the past I’ve been pretty good at finishing the job, so that wasn’t, by any means, that.”
The NASCAR race showed both sides of Hocevar’s afternoon. He had enough speed to score Stage 1 points, but contact, spins and the difficult track conditions left him with a 19th-place finish. Zilisch finished 21st in Stage 2 after the clash, while Hocevar finished 31st in the stage.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Nightmare Deepens After Connor Zilisch Contact at New Hampshire