Ross Chastain on mentoring Carson Hocevar after controversial Nashville move: "He's got enough people to deal with it"

Trackhouse Racing star Ross Chastain has revealed his close working relationship with rookie Carson Hocevar. Hocevar joined Spire Motorsports at the start of the 2024 season.

The 21-year-old's start to his NASCAR Cup Series career has been far from ideal. Coming through the ranks of Niece Motorsports in the Truck Series, he completed three full seasons driving the No. 42 Chevy before securing his big move to the Cup Series.

After a successful campaign in the Truck Series where he secured a Championship 4 field spot in the season finale, Hocevar signed for Spire Motorsports on a multi-year deal. The 20-year-old, however, has endured a tumultuous period in his maiden Cup campaign.

In 19 races this season, Hocevar has only managed two top-10 finishes. His aggressive driving style, which has been both a strength and a liability, has drawn criticism and led to several on-track incidents. This reputation, carried over from his Truck Series days, has put Hocevar under a critical spotlight.

The most notable incident occurred during the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race at Nashville Superspeedway. The 21-year-old was handed a hefty $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty for "intentionally spinning" Harrison Burton's Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 car with 56 laps remaining. This controversial move has only added to the scrutiny surrounding Hocevar's driving tactics.

Amidst this turbulence, Ross Chastain, a seasoned competitor, has spoken out in support of Hocevar. Chastain, who has also faced his share of controversies and criticisms in his career, empathizes with the young driver’s struggles and recognizes his potential. He said (via Bob Pockrass):

"I think back to what I was doing at 20 years old and I wasn’t that fast. I am constantly amazed at how he makes speed with these cars. And then off the track, he has enough people to deal with around him that is there to help him grow and grow with him for the long haul. Because he’s so fast, they are invested in growing with him."

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Ross Chastain on Carson Hocevar having the support of Jeff Dickerson

Ross Chastain highlighted the significant support system that Hocevar has at Spire Motorsports. One key figure in this support network is Jeff Dickerson, who has played a crucial role in Hocevar's development and handling of the pressures that come with the sport.

“["Carson] and I talked yesterday and he has a good group of people here at the track so he doesn’t need me. He’s got Jeff Dickerson and he’s great. I talked to him earlier in the week. One of Jeff’s strong suits is that he’s very good at dealing with this and helped me get through some of my past mistakes. It was really refreshing to hear from Jeff and what they went through and how they worked through it this week.

Ross Chastain is ranked eleventh in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, with 514 points to his name, courtesy of two top-5 finishes. The 31-year-old's best performance so far is finishing fourth in the Pennzoil 400, which took place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Chastain's last top-five finish came in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at the Sonoma Raceway.