While NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar’s aggressive racing style continues to awe his fans, his pre-race comments have also earned him multiple enemies. Now, Kevin Harvick and others have told him to be careful with his words and actions on and off track. 

And Hocevar’s recent open challenge to fight just added another layer. NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick warned the No. 77 Spire Motorsports driver about picking fights with the wrong guy on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast.

"I don't really envision him [Hocevar] as being like a really good fighter either," he said. "You just better pick the right guy. The right guy's gonna knock your teeth out," Harvick said on July 14.

Hocevar’s comments come amid his escalating feud with Zane Smith after their contact on Lap 32 during the race at Chicagoland Speedway. Smith had intentionally driven into Hocevar, causing major damage to both cars.

Since then, the tension between the two drivers has been palpable on social media and across media appearances. On the July 14 episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, NASCAR analyst Dylan 'Mamba' Smith also spoke out about Hocevar’s comments.

"I have enjoyed watching; I enjoy all the commentary, but he [Hocevar] doesn't seem to care, and he called the guys out on pre-race this week. He said, 'If anyone wants to throw down, I'm here for it.' And then Corey Heim responded to that on Twitter and said crying emojis and just wrote son. And I'm like, 'All right, bro.' Like, 'Here we go'," Smith said on July 14.

However, Kevin Harvick and company are not the only ones to warn Hocevar about his words. Denny Hamlin has also weighed in on the same. 

Denny Hamlin issues warning to Carson Hocevar amid growing list of rivals 

While talking about the Atlanta race on Tuesday's episode of Actions Detrimental, Hamlin revealed that Hocevar’s attitude towards the drivers is what is costing him a potential win.

The JGR driver spoke about how tracks like these, which require drafting, always need help from fellow drivers.  

“You can’t disrespect people on and off the track. That’s what Jeff Burton was saying so well," Hamlin said. "Dale Earnhardt was winning a lot of races, but he would at least come to you and say, ‘Man, I’m sorry about that.’ He made you believe you were friends, and he’d help you get over it. 

The No. 11 driver concluded that respect from peers is as important as getting clicks. 

“You don’t have to have a lot of friends, but you definitely can’t have a lot of enemies. There’s never been one of the greats in our sport who wasn’t respected by his peers. What’s good for clicks is not always what’s good for competition.”  

While Carson Hocevar’s fearless approach has made him a rising star and even earned him comparisons to Dale Sr, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin agree that balancing aggression with respect will the key to his success.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit