Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain has shared his thoughts on controversies over Spire Motorsports youngster Carson Hocevar.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season so far has been controversial for Spire Motorsports Carson Hocevar. He made it to the headlines this year with maiden win at Talladega, attending Met Gala and as it has often been for him; cause multiple wrecks. He has left a mixed feeling among the drivers including Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain.
In the latest episode of the Racin’ with the Boys podcast, the veteran racer talked about his former Spire Motorsports teammate, who he has closely watched grow up. He pointed out that though Hocevar seems grow up from the outside, he is still a kid and he acts like one. The comment was made with the positive tone and not as a criticism.
And I’ve watched, we’ve all watched him grow up. I mean, he’s always been tall, and he always appears to me older than he actually is. But he’s a kid. He acts like a child. And that’s not putting it in a bad way.
Ross Chastain said about Hocevar.While talking about the same, the podcast monitors showed an image of confrontation involving the duo and Ross Chastain immediately started talking about it. He highlighted how the decision making has been a weakness for the youngster and highlighted how a few years back, he was having similar run-ins with two times champion Joey Logano.
My honest opinion is the decisions he makes, which is so funny to see those pictures of us at Echo Park Speedway because it’s the same thing Joey (Logano) was doing to me at Chicago a few years ago. I was just trying to get through to him like, ‘Man, you didn’t have to do that,’ because it was at my detriment. Like it took me out of a chance to win. But yeah. To somebody else, but not to me.
Ross Chastain added via Racin’ with the Boys podcast.
The veteran admitted that some of his criticism can be seen as hypocritic considering he has been in the similar situation owing to his aggressive style in the past. As Carson Hocevar’s mentor for a few seasons Chastain has cherished seeing him grow up and be more mature on as well as off the track.
And I was like, pot meet kettle. I walked away and Lauren Emling, who’s off camera here, she’s like, ‘Did you really have to do that?’ And I was like, that was a misstep. I’m not a guy that walks down and talks right after the race. And he’s trying to explain, and it didn’t make any sense to me. And I’m just like, okay, this conversation’s over. But watching him grow up mentally has been fun. And it’s fun. I hope it continues. I hope he continues to grow up. There’s a lot left (for him to do).
Justin Marks draws parallels between Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar
Trackhouse Racing’s co-owner Justin Marks, who also featured in the interview, talked about the young racer. He highlighted how some criticism of the No:77 Chevy driver is valid, but not everything. Then the owner driver highlighted how Chastain got the similar treatment in his early years, when he started giving the big-3 real fight with his aggression.
I think some of it is warranted, obviously, because there’s times when he can be kind of a bull in a China shop… And I think that, you know, like when Ross showed up, it was a threat to the establishment. It’s like now there’s a new guy that we haven’t ever had to think about before. That’s here.
Justin Marks said.
The comments from the racer and team owner are on point. Hocevar is the underdog that is taking the fight to the big side in his own fashion and sometimes he might’ve crossed the line to get result. At the end of the day that is a sign of star driver capable of taking the sport to the next level.
