Carson Hocevar had 'productive' conversation with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after Nashville controversy

Last week, Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. looked like the newest rivalry in the NASCAR Cup Series after Nashville. The two have since talked things over, and it appears that the bumps have been smoothed out between the drivers.

Carson Hocevar got into Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Nashville. Then, he more or less doubled down and dismissed the incident in post-race interviews. Hocevar finished P2, and jumped Stenhouse in the point standings because of the DNF to the 47 car.

Of course, Stenhouse was open about his desire to get even with Hocevar. Now it looks like everything is good between him and Hocevar, at least for now.

Carson Hocevar talked to the media at Nashville about the conversation he had with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He seems to feel like they are back to being on the same page.

“Yeah, I mean it was productive,” Hocevar said. “Me and him have, you know, both have the reputation, I guess, of both being aggressive at times and everything. So, we just at one point we both reminded each other that even with those reputations, obviously, we’ve raced each other very well together, right? It clashes together. Yeah, we’ve had no issues before, as he had said, and I feel like we’ve had, you know, a decent relationship leading up to this. I thought it was productive and based off his comments, I felt like it was received, uh, productive.”

This week, Carson Hocevar goes back to his home track of Michigan International Speedway. He is looking to get a win in front of his friends and family.

Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. sharing a garage

It’s a good thing that Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are getting along right now. Because if they weren’t, then the garage stall selection for this weekend would be just a little awkward. They are next to each other in points, and this weekend are sharing a stall in the Cup garage.

Stenhouse has seemingly calmed down a bit. That will be welcome news for Hocevar as he gets ready to chase his first career win at a track that plays into his strengths.

“After Carson called me this week, I definitely see where he was thinking that he could get to the inside of me before we turned down in the corner. Problem was he didn’t. He had committed thinking he was going to and unfortunately, he just misjudged it and ran right into the back of us,” Stenhouse said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “Carson and I hadn’t had any issues before. I appreciate him reaching out and explaining what his thought process was. It doesn’t change that our NOS Energy Camaro was in the garage at the end of the race, which was unfortunate.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was 13th in points prior to Nashville. He left 18th in points. It was his first DNF of the year and his first since Watkins Glen in 2024. This week, he’s hoping to get back to his consistent driving and ideally, move up in the points again.