Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t hold back following Carson Hocevar’s aggressive move on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during last weekend’s Nashville race. Speaking from the NBC broadcast booth, Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged that while Hocevar’s daring style adds excitement—and a necessary dose of personality—to NASCAR, there’s a fine line between bold racing and reckless behavior .
He cautioned the young driver, saying that knocking the “good guy” like Stenhouse into the wall crosses that line. Earnhardt Jr. warned Hocevar to “pick and choose who your enemies are,” and not throw the whole garage into chaos . Despite the studio enjoying the drama, he pointed out that Hocevar might have provoked the wrong competitor this time—and that others in the garage will respond accordingly .
Hocevar indeed made contact in Stage 2, sending Stenhouse spinning into the wall and forcing him out of contention. It wasn’t just a hard move—it was one that many, including Earnhardt Jr., felt was unnecessary and poorly timed . The former champion stressed that while a little controversy spices up the sport, respect and strategic judgment on when—and who—to challenge are vital.
Stenhouse described the incident as uncharacteristic but didn’t hold back, vowing that “there’ll be something to do about it at one point” . He declined to retaliate publicly, but his warning suggests this isn’t over.
Carson’s response reflected his confidence (and maybe defiance): he hasn’t watched the replay yet and said he’ll comment once he has . Earnhardt Jr. summed it up by acknowledging Hocevar’s ability to outperform equipment (“he races above the potential of the car”), but reiterated the key message: “He brings tons of personality… but the garage will police it a little bit” .
In short, Dale Jr.’s message to Hocevar: bring the fire—but know when to hold back. NASCAR thrives on drama, but respect, timing, and choosing your battles matter. With tempers flaring and rivalries forming, this is a turning point in Hocevar’s career—and how he races from here could define his path.
