“You weaponed your car and knocked the guys freaking nose in.”
Carson Hocevar brake checked Austin Cindric at Martinsville Speedway. Not once or twice, but four times.
Carson Hocevar brake checks Austin Cindric (Video)
On the fourth brake check, Cindric’s front nose was completely caved it. The No. 2 car was forced to the garage area with heavy damage.
Austin Cindric stated over the radio, “He just threw a temper tantrum.”
After the race, Hocevar didn’t admit any blame. Likely because when drivers have taken blame, it has resulted in an immediate penalty. Instead, Hocevar called it short track racing.
Denny Hamlin says Carson Hocevar doesn’t have to admit it to get a penalty
Denny Hamlin: “They don’t like intentional wrecking. I’ve gotten that penalty. What’s the different in wrecking from the front versus wrecking from the rear?”
Dale Earnhardt Jr: “When you’re going to intentionally wreck somebody, you better make it look good. You better not make it obvious. You don’t want to right-hook a guy. The brake checking stuff is kinda similar, you can make it look like ‘whoops’. Or you can make it obvious in the middle of the straightaway. Hocevar’s was absolutely obvious and he didn’t even try to hide it.”
Hamlin added, “You don’t have to admit it. Why are you hitting the brakes down the straightaways?”
Dale Jr: “Neither Berry or Hocevar admitted to doing anything.”
Hamlin: “That shouldn’t matter.”
Dale Jr: “It shouldn’t but that’s the precedent. I’m going off of what I’ve seen in the past. You think they would penalize him?”
Hamlin: “He wrecked him.”
Dale Jr: “Oh I get it, I know.”
Hamlin: “They had to take the bumpers out because dude these hits hurt.”
Dale Jr: “I know. What the [expletive], I know!”
Hamlin: “You weaponed your car and knocked the guys freaking nose in. Three times!”
Weaker front bumpers were installed for this event at Martinsville Speedway
The Next Gen cars were built solid. Too solid. Taking constant hits in the bumper on short track was becoming an issue.
NASCAR brought a softer front end to the track at Martinsville to lessen impacts from bump-and-runs. However, the rear still remains solid and it can now be used as a weapon.
Denny Hamlin explained, “This thing was built like a tank. I got all the drivers together and said, ‘Guys, I’m worried about how hard these hits are going to be.’ “
“They said, ‘It’s the same’. [expletive], it was not the same.”
“They had to start cutting this car up. It was meant to buy a car and you’re going to run it all year long because it is a tank. Now, it’s not. Which is why our costs have gone through the roof.”
“Expensive cars, $350,000. And, we’re replacing braces.”
The front end bracing and pieces total roughly $75,000.
“They started noticing it. So, when the bumper crushes, now the rear clip is going to fold up. As a car owner it sucks, now we gotta buy all these rear clips. But, the number one thing is safety.”
“Now that you know that person is vulnerable and you ain’t going to get no damage.”
Denny Hamlin talks the cost of the Next Gen car
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Denny Hamlin | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Carson Hocevar | Austin Cindric | Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR
