Denny Hamlin hits Carson Hocevar with stray shot breaking down Martinsville approach, potential Phoenix payoff

Carson Hocevar had an eventful day in Sunday’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway — not in a good way. Hocevar went for a spin not one, not two, but *three* times over the course of 500 laps.

Denny Hamlin, who saw his race end early due to a blown engine, fired a playful shot at Hocevar on Monday’s Actions Detrimental podcast. Discussing his approach and why he didn’t go out of his way to air-block drivers, he made mention to Hocevar’s many issues at Martinsville.

“I let no less than five cars actually pass, like let them pass,” Hamlin said. “I could’ve just held my line and air-blocked them and made them get their stuff hot and it would have been very detrimental to them. Maybe they would have passed me, maybe not. But then this weekend, if I’m racing those guys, hopefully they pay that back, right? There was nothing to gain by frustrating Chase Elliott or frustrating Joey Logano. It’s deposits and withdrawals and if I get it back, I get it back. If I don’t, I don’t.

“I don’t know why some people feel it’s so necessary air-block and chop noses on Lap 100 when we got such a long way to go. If you’re good enough, you will get your shot at some point in the day. … Everyone remembers stuff. When you drive them like a d*ck, they definitely remember. Why do you think Carson Hocevar was in four wrecks? I’m just saying, it’s OK to let people go and if you’re good enough, you’re going to get your shot. Even though those guys were racing my teammate and racing for their own spot in the final four, to me it didn’t really matter. It is what it is.”

Carson Hocevar was everywhere at Martinsville

Hocevar’s first two spins involved Daniel Suárez, his soon to be teammate at Spire Motorsports. Hocevar did not think highly of Suárez after the first incident. A caution came out as Hocevar found himself getting spun out on Lap 216.

It was not what Hocevar was hoping for in a race where he was simply trying to keep up pace on the lead lap. Hocevar keyed up on his radio and gave a simple but effective message, “F*ck him.” 

Hocevar had one more spin left in him, going around late in Stage 3. He finished 31st at Martinsville.