Carson Hocevar heard Ryan Preece's criticism of him after a wreck last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, and he responded by clearing the air.
According to the Spire Motorsports driver, he spoke to Preece in the week leading up to Kansas Speedway. He viewed the conversation as very productive and noted that the two drivers have an understanding moving forward.
"I just explained that, of I wasn't trying to put him in a bad spot and be aggressive," Hocevar said Saturday at Kansas. "I tried to unwind the wheel and track out to the wall, and I didn't expect a car to be there.
"That's on me for not predicting it and not expecting it -- expectations being different and the grip level being a different thing. I think he was very understanding of it. Obviously, we both wrecked, and it wasn't good for either of us."
Here's what happened with Hocevar, Ware and Preece:#NASCAR | @TXMotorSpeedway pic.twitter.com/RxhVL2fbhU
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 4, 2025
The incident occurred on Lap 237 of last weekend's race. Preece was on the outside, exiting a turn with Hocevar on his inside. The Spire Motorsports driver continued moving up and pinched the RFK Racing driver into the wall.
This kicked off a wreck in which Hocevar's car caught air while Preece's hit both the outside and inside SAFER barriers. The wreck ended Preece's day. He left the track with a 29th-place finish. Hocevar continued racing but only managed a 24th-place finish.
Preece underwent evaluation at the infield care center and then met with media members. He told them that Hocevar "has no respect" for equipment or other drivers and that he would have his day.
"I just passed (Chris Buescher) and I really didn't expect (Preece) to be a factor in the equation," Hocevar explained. "I started unwinding the wheel to get out of (Todd Gilliland's) wake and try to be on offense.
"I found myself on defense, in the wake, crossing, tied, and now he's on my door. It just shocked me."
Hocevar says the two drivers have an understanding after the wreck and the conversation. Now, the fans will just have to watch and see how the two race each other in future events, starting with Kansas this weekend.