Kyle Larson has added another layer to the growing conversation around Carson Hocevar after a controversial moment during the recent NASCAR race. The Hendrick Motorsports driver didn't hold back, dropping a blunt take that's put Hocevar’s actions under a microscope. 

During the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire, as the drivers tried to get a feel for the wet track on their pace lap after a delayed start. However, Hocevar decided to push a little harder, and this caused him to lose control of his car and spin around, delaying the start of the race once again. 

While it all looked like an incident that was caused by the track conditions, the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver did not think so. During an appearance on the 'Door, Bumper, Clear' podcast, he spoke about the pre-race incident. 

"Spinning out before the race. Like that was 1,000% just to get on TV,”  Larson said on the 'Door, Bumper, Clear' podcast uploaded on YouTube on August 25th. 

Larson wasn’t the only driver to call Hocevar out for the incident. Just as the spin happened, the Team Penske driver Joey Logano, who was behind the Spire Motorsports driver at the time of the spin, called him out over the radio. 

"Look at this guy. Look at this idiot,"  Logano said after witnessing the spin during the pace lap at the New Hampshire race. 

Over the 2026 NASCAR season, Carson Hocevar has built a reputation as one of the most aggressive drivers. While his aggressive driving style has earned praise from some, he has also received a lot of criticism for the same, as he has ended up in several on-track controversies.

Kyle Larson weighs in on Carson Hocevar’s on-track personality

Larson’s criticism of Hocevar did not just stop at the pre-race spin; he spoke about Hocevar’s overall personality and aggressive approach to the races. 

In the aforementioned podcast, as the conversation shifted to the No.77 Spire Motorsports driver's personality, Larson pointed out that Hocevar’s personality might be less who he is and more of something he is putting on. 

"I don't think you have to totally neuter him, but I almost feel like he's at the point now where he's like, doing it even like, it's not really him," Larson explained on the podcast. "It's a piece of him, but he's going above what he really is." 

For now, it seems like Carson Hocevar has no plans to dial down his personality, but with the chase fast approaching, it will be interesting to see if his aggressive approach and personality help him or hurt his race result. 

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco