Carson Hocevar has been one of NASCAR’s most talked-about rookies, but often for the wrong reasons. The Spire Motorsports driver is no stranger to controversy and on-track incidents. However, after a few quiet weeks, Hocevar was back in the spotlight following his recent outing at Loudon, not for another wreck, but for a surprisingly clean and impressive run that caught the eye of a certain NASCAR veteran.

Why Was Carson Hocevar’s Performance at New Hampshire So Surprising?

After several inconsistent performances near the end of the regular season, Hocevar has flipped the narrative with two top-10 and two top-15 finishes in the postseason. In his most recent race at New Hampshire, the Spire Motorsports driver narrowly missed another top-10 finish, ultimately settling for the 11th spot.

Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevy started sixth on the grid at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and the 22-year-old maintained his track position for most of the race. He ran among the top-five drivers for the majority of Stage 1 and finished in fifth.

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The No. 77 driver held his ground in the second stage as well, staying away from the chaos to secure another fifth-place stage finish. While Hocevar could not maintain that momentum until the very end, his performance was a significant step forward.

This clean race was particularly notable because the 22-year-old has built a reputation this season for being a centerpiece of on-track drama. In a stark contrast to his usual aggressive style, Hocevar managed to stay out of trouble and run a clean race for most of the day at New Hampshire.

What Did NASCAR Veteran Tommy Baldwin Jr. Say About Carson Hocevar’s Loudon Run?

NASCAR veteran Tommy Baldwin Jr., a co-host of the “Door, Bumper, Clear” podcast, took notice of Hocevar’s performance and praised him for keeping it clean. On the latest episode of the podcast, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick joined the show to discuss the weekend and the rest of the season.

As the group dissected the Loudon race, Baldwin interrupted to give credit where it was due. “I’m gonna hate saying this, but kudos to the 77 [Hocevar] yesterday,” Baldwin said.

While Baldwin acknowledged Hocevar’s overall run and finish, he specifically appreciated the clean nature of his performance. The 58-year-old continued: “I hate I’m saying this, but I watched from where we were pitted, he did a good job. He [Hocevar] didn’t run into anybody. He had a clean day. He ran in the top 10 all day because he didn’t run into anybody and hurt his car.”

Despite making headlines for the wrong reasons several times this season, Hocevar has also shown bursts of brilliance and proved his talent behind the wheel. His reputation for aggressive driving has even led many to compare the 22-year-old to the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr.