In the Pocono circuit, Carson Hocevar showed up without a visible scratch. His polo shirt looked impeccable, but the tension with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was palpable. Stenhouse’s threat to retaliate after the incident in Mexico City kept everyone on edge. The rivalry between Hocevar and Stenhouse could trigger a new episode on the track. Stenhouse, with his promise of settling the score, anticipates a possible confrontation.
Hocevar is aware of the situation and knows that revenge could be imminent. The dispute between both drivers began three races ago, when Hocevar caused an incident with Stenhouse in Nashville, followed by another in Mexico City, which triggered an altercation in the pit. In the audio captured by Hocevar’s camera, Stenhouse is heard threatening: “I’m going to beat you up. You’re a lapped car, you have nothing to do. Why are you crashing into me? It’s the second time. I’m going to beat you up when we get back to the United States.” Although Hocevar avoided a physical confrontation, his Spire team received a $50,000 fine for derogatory comments about Mexico. At 23 years old and in his second full season, Hocevar has been involved in controversies, even receiving criticism from Denny Hamlin. Hocevar acknowledged that the rematch could be imminent, but appealed for a “witch hunt” not to be unleashed against him. Hocevar has been the target of criticism due to his aggressive racing style and comments. “It doesn’t mean I’m not hard on myself for those mistakes, because they are mistakes,” he said. “It’s just trying not to turn that into a pattern.” After experiencing Mexican culture, Hocevar retracted his initial comments. “I didn’t give it a chance. I didn’t go see it. When I did, then, with the perspective of time, I have my own opinion. But I already said it,” he commented. Additionally, Spire ordered Hocevar to attend a cultural sensitivity course. Stenhouse, for his part, has suffered a setback in the standings, falling from 13th to 21st place in just three weeks. Stenhouse, with his provocative language, could face consequences if he fulfills his promise of retaliation against Hocevar. Despite the tensions, Stenhouse prefers to focus on other matters. “Honestly, I’m tired of talking about the guy,” he stated. However, the action could be coming. “Eventually everything will come together at some point. I’m not sure when or how. But it will happen,” Stenhouse concluded.He’ll probably be looking over his shoulder for a long time.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
