Both Carson Hocevar and Ryan Preece had the opportunity to leave Texas with strong runs, but ended in disappointment and frustration instead. Hocevar began the race from pole position (the first of his career), while Preece steadily made his way forward throughout the day.
When a caution for a spinning Jesse Love in the middle of green-flag pit stops shook up the running order late, both of them were caught on the wrong end of it. Hocevar had pitted already and was a lap down while Preece pitted only moments before the caution, but was still unable to get back on track before losing a lap.
This put them both in the middle of the field, which is where they met on Lap 238, exiting Turn 2. Hocevar got tight, pushed wide, slammed Preece into the wall and triggered a multi-car wreck. Preece was furious at the infield care center, speaking to FOX Sports about Hocevar: "He just seems to be proving me right over and over again ... Just got ran into the fence by somebody that has no respect for his equipment or anybody else's equipment, or anybody else who is out there. He'll have his day."
Here's what happened with Hocevar, Ware and Preece:#NASCAR | @TXMotorSpeedway pic.twitter.com/RxhVL2fbhU
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 4, 2025
Fast forward this weekend to Kansas, where Hocevar revealed in a Saturday press conference that he has since spoken with Preece about the incident. Hocever finished 24th after the run-in while Preece recorded a DNF, placing 29th.
"I thought it was very productive," said Hocevar when asked about the conversation. "I thought he heard my point of view and I heard his, and I think we have a really good understanding to go forward. You know, I just kind of explained my positioning of it. I just passed the 17 [Chris Buescher], and I really didn't expect the 60 [Preece] to be a factor in the equation. I started unwinding the wheel to get out of the 34's [Todd Gilliland] wake and try to be on offense, and found myself on defense in the wake and tight, and now he's on my door. And that just shocked me.
"I just explained that I wasn't trying to put him in a bad spot and be aggressive. I tried to unwind the wheel and track out to the wall, and I didn't expect a car to be there. So that's on me for not predicting it, not expecting it. Expectations being different and the grip level being a different thing. So I think he was very understanding of it. Obviously, we both wrecked, and it wasn't good for either of us and we're both around the same point situation, and he's having a good year. I feel like we're faster than expected. I think we just both have the understanding that we don't want to ruin the momentum each other have moving forward."
This is not not the first time Preece has been left frustrated with Hocevar, also calling him out following a 2022 NASCAR Truck Series race at Charlotte where they wrecked in the battle for the win.
