Carson Hocevar made plenty of noise in Atlanta. He ruffled feathers, had a fiery movement with Kyle Busch, and spun Ryan Blaney. Yet, he still managed to finish second at the Ambetter Health 400. That wasn’t the only headline he created. His post-race comments about racing hard rather than making friends only fueled the fire.

This kind of aggressive driving has made Hocevar a polarizing figure. While some love his fearless approach, others believe he’s making too many enemies too fast. Either way, his stock is rising. Now, as he prepares for another weekend on track, he’s making a rare Xfinity Series appearance. But it comes at the expense of another driver.

Garrett Smithley realises his weakness!

Veteran Xfinity series driver Garrett Smithley decided to step out of the No. 14 car. Instead, Carson Hocevar will take the wheel for SS-Green Light Racing. The road course at COTA is known for its challenges, and Smithley admitted that it’s not his strength. Rather than struggling at the back, he chose to give his team a better shot by bringing in Hocevar.

Smithley shared a video and said, “I have made the decision to step out of the No. 14 car. We have the opportunity to put Carson Hocevar in our car. He’s driven for Bobby Dotter before, qualified 13th at COTA, made his Xfinity debut there, and did a great job. Xfinity racing is incredibly competitive—more competitive than it ever has been. I’ve been around long enough to know my strengths and weaknesses. Road courses are not one of my strengths, especially when it comes to extracting speed.”

Notably, Smithley is a veteran in the Xfinity Series,  Despite racing for years, the SS-Green Light driver has failed to put up a show. With 182 starts under his belt, he has only five top-10 finishes and one top-five finish. His average finish of 24.8 simply suggests that he has struggled to make an impact. On the other hand, Hocevar has shown promise in his limited starts. In just five Xfinity races, he has already secured two top-10 finishes. His average start of 14.4 suggests he has more speed in qualifying than Smithley.

It’s worth noting that Smithley has not made a single start at COTA in the Xfinity series, while Hocevar did in 2023. Driving for SS-Green Light Racing he qualified at 17th and finished 38th after a crash. However, in 2024, he improved his performance for Spire Motorsports and finished in the top 25. Notably, Hocevar’s best performance came at Chicago Street Course where he started 13th and finished in the top 25 again. These numbers justify why Smithley and SS-Green Light Racing took the decision. In a sport where every fraction of a second matters, Hocevar has speed and aggression while Smithley lacks it.

Notably, Carson Hocevar’s aggressive driving style has made him one of the rising polarized figures in NASCAR. Last weekend at the Ambetter Health 400 in Atlanta, he was at the center of multiple controversies. His day started with an early run-in with Kyle Busch, who expressed his frustration by threatening to wreck him and the entire field. Later in the race, Hocevar bumped Ryan Blaney, causing him to spin out. After the race, they were spotted in a heated discussion which both refused to reveal.

After the race, his comments stirred even more debate. In a post-race media interview, he clarified that he’s not interested in making friends on the track.“We’re here to win races, not be a boy band and love each other and play in the playground together,” Hocevar said. His approach has drawn both criticism and praise. Denny Hamlin warned that making too many enemies could make life harder for Hocevar. “If you’ve got a bunch of guys upset with you, it just makes your job so hard,” Hamlin said. However, NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick had a different view.

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Kevin Harvick heaps praise on Carson Hocevar!

While some drivers have been critical of Carson Hocevar’s aggressive tactics, Kevin Harvick sees something else: raw talent. The former Cup Series champion believes Hocevar is simply doing what young drivers should do, i.e. making a name for himself. “He’s got what it takes. Yeah, he’s ruffling some feathers, but that’s what young guys do when they come in. You’re trying to make a name for yourself, and sometimes that means stepping on some toes,” said Harvick.

Former Cup series champion also pointed out that aggressive drivers often mature into top-tier competitors. He believes that many of today’s stars started as fearless racers who pushed limits. “Look at guys like Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and even Denny Hamlin. When they first came in, they didn’t care who they upset,” Harvick added. However, he further warned Hocevar and revealed that he needed to understand the limits. He believes that Hocevar still has a lot to learn but his willingness to go all out could eventually turn him into a consistent contender.

“The biggest thing for him is understanding when to push and when to back off. If you make too many enemies too soon, it can come back to bite you. But at the same time, you can’t back down. That’s the fine line he has to walk,” said Harvick. With support from a veteran like Harvick and fans, Hocevar has the potential to be a future star. But for now, his focus is on proving himself at COTA. With the No. 14 car under his control, he has a golden opportunity to show his road course skills.