Tempers flared late in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway after Ryan Preece was taken out in a multi-car crash, and he didn’t mince words in his post-race comments. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver called out Carson Hocevar for what he viewed as a reckless move that ended his day prematurely.
“Just got run into the fence by somebody that has no respect for his equipment, anybody else’s equipment, and any other driver,” Preece said in a scathing post-race interview. “He’ll have his day.”
The incident occurred with less than 40 laps remaining in the race when Hocevar, driving the No. 77 Spire Motorsports entry, made an aggressive move that pinched Preece into the outside wall. The contact triggered a chain reaction that ended with both cars heavily damaged and out of contention.
Preece, visibly frustrated after exiting his wrecked car, pointed to a growing trend of aggressive driving among younger competitors in the Cup Series.
“There’s a difference between racing hard and racing stupid,” Preece added. “I’ve raced long enough to know when someone crosses that line. And today, he crossed it.”
This is not the first time Hocevar has drawn criticism for his driving style. The rookie has made headlines several times during his rapid rise through the ranks, sometimes for his raw talent and other times for aggressive, borderline reckless tactics that have ruffled feathers in the garage.
Hocevar, for his part, acknowledged the contact but stopped short of accepting full blame, telling reporters, “We were all fighting for position and things happen fast out there. I hate that it happened, but I wasn’t trying to wreck anyone.”
The feud between Preece and Hocevar now becomes another subplot in what has been a drama-filled 2025 season. With both drivers still seeking momentum in the championship standings, fans will be watching closely the next time they find themselves racing side-by-side.
For Preece, the wreck is a costly blow to an already tough season, while for Hocevar, the incident adds another layer of controversy to an otherwise promising rookie campaign.
Would you like a breakdown of other recent feuds in the Cup Series for context?
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