Kyle Busch doesn’t hold back. When something irks him on the track, the entire world hears about it. That was the case a few weeks ago in Atlanta when Carson Hocevar sent Busch’s frustration into overdrive. Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, had started the Ambetter Health 400 in a solid sixth place. But his No. 8 Chevrolet was struggling. The car lacked the mechanical grip he needed, and each lap felt like a battle to hold position.

Then came Hocevar. The 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, known for his aggressive driving, was racing hard on the inside when he drifted up the track—right into Busch’s Lane. It wasn’t the first time Hocevar had pulled a stunt like this. And Busch had had enough. The Rowdy, known for his fiery personality, let loose on the radio. “Go tell that 77 he’s done that same f—— move ten times. I don’t care. I’ll f—— wreck him,” he raged.

Notably, Busch’s frustration wasn’t just about that one incident. Hocevar’s driving style had been a growing concern, rubbing competitors the wrong way. Fast forward to Martinsville, and the controversy surrounding Hocevar hasn’t cooled down. If anything, it has only intensified. However, this time, it wasn’t an outsider like Busch calling him out—it was his own people from the Spire Motorsports.

Spire Motorsports fights for track position at Martinsville!

Martinsville Speedway, known for its tight corners and aggressive short-track racing, brought Spire Motorsports’ internal friction into the spotlight. The clash between Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley during the Cook Out 400 was the latest chapter in his growing reputation as a troublemaker on the track. During the race, Hocevar didn’t hesitate to shove his teammate out of the way.

The 22-year-old driver gave a big bump to Justin Haley’s No. 7 car, forcing his way around. Eddie D’Hondt, Haley’s spotter, had seen enough. Over the radio, he issued a stern warning: “Don’t let him do that to you. I know he’s a teammate, but it’s not right.” Haley retaliated with a few bumps of his own, but by then, Hocevar had already pulled away. That moment spoke volumes. Hocevar’s aggression wasn’t just affecting rivals like Busch—it was now a problem inside Spire Motorsports.

A team that had expanded to three full-time Cup entries this season suddenly found itself with a chemistry issue between its drivers. Interestingly, this wasn’t a one-time incident. Hocevar’s on-track approach has been raising eyebrows all season. In Atlanta, his relentless driving earned him a second-place finish, but it also made him a target. Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Ross Chastain all voiced their frustrations with the 22-year-old’s tactics.

Despite the criticism, Hocevar refused to back down. “We’re here to win races, not be a boy band,” he said after Atlanta. His attitude made it clear—he wasn’t going to change. But while his aggression brought some success, it also came with a cost. His reckless moves have led to three DNFs this season. Before Martinsville he has shown flashes of speed, led five laps, and earned 20 stage points, but the wrecks have overshadowed those moments.

Meanwhile, Justin Haley—despite having fewer standout moments—has managed to stay out of trouble and sit ahead of Hocevar in points. The tension between them at Martinsville only added fuel to the fire. And it wasn’t just Haley who felt Hocevar’s aggressive side on Sunday. Earlier in the Cook Out 400, Hocevar found himself at the centre of another wreck. On Lap 71, he made contact with Chris Buescher, sending the No. 17 Ford for a spin.

The crash brought out the second caution of the race and left Buescher at the very back of the field in 38th. This pattern of questionable moves isn’t doing Spire Motorsports any favors. The team is trying to establish itself as a competitive force in NASCAR, but when one of its drivers keeps making headlines for the wrong reasons, it creates unwanted distractions. And for Haley, Martinsville wasn’t just about Hocevar’s antics—it was bizarre for an entirely different reason.

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Justin Haley’s bizarre hood moment!

While Carson Hocevar was stirring up trouble on the track, Justin Haley had his own odd moment before the race even started. During practice at Martinsville, his No. 7 team made a crucial mistake—the hood pins weren’t set. As Haley took his car onto the track, the hood flew up, smacking into the windshield. This kind of mistake is almost unheard of outside of a wreck. The pit crew’s misstep could have caused serious damage or even a crash, but Haley was lucky.

However, after assessing the situation, the team determined that no major repairs were needed, allowing him to qualify as planned. It was an embarrassing moment for Spire Motorsports, a team that can’t afford such mistakes. Haley’s season hasn’t been terrible, but it hasn’t been spectacular either. While Michael McDowell is emerging as a lead driver, Haley and Hocevar are still trying to establish themselves.

Statistically, Haley holds a slight edge over Hocevar in points, but his lack of stage points and top-five finishes put him in a tricky spot. If he wants to solidify his position within Spire Motorsports, he needs stronger performances—and fewer bizarre incidents like the Martinsville hood mishap. At Spire, the question remains: Who will step up as the leader of the group? McDowell is leading the way, but between Hocevar’s aggressive antics and Haley’s struggles, the battle for the team’s second-best driver is wide open.