The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series rookie campaign has offered Connor Zilisch plenty of reasons to believe he belongs at the sport’s highest level. But it has also delivered more than its fair share of frustration. From costly incidents to races slipping away through circumstances beyond his control, the Trackhouse Racing rookie has endured a difficult learning curve. Unfortunately for Zilisch, that familiar feeling followed him to Loudon once again.

“It just got f***ing wrecked,”Carson Hocevar’s frustration was clear over the radio after the incident involving Connor Zilisch at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Lap 84 caution came out after Hocevar spun from 12th position on the frontstretch following contact with Zilisch. Joey Logano was also caught up in the incident, turning what looked like a simple battle into another chaotic moment for several drivers.

However, the immediate aftermath suggested Zilisch was not willing to accept responsibility for what happened. “He did that to himself. He always does.”

Those comments were heard as Connor Zilisch and Josh Williams discussed the incident. The USA broadcast also picked up on the contact, with Hocevar appearing to door Zilisch down the frontstretch before the two headed into Turn 1.

Zilisch’s spotter quickly stepped in over the radio, seemingly aware that the rookie could be tempted to retaliate. “Just don’t f*** with him … Don’t f*** with him. Long way to go.”

That message was important. With plenty of racing still remaining, Zilisch had every reason to keep his composure rather than allow one incident to derail his afternoon further. Carson Hocevar, meanwhile, appeared to believe the contact was not an isolated incident.

“He ran into me in practice too.”

That allegation added another layer to the developing tension between the two drivers. If Hocevar felt Zilisch had already caused trouble earlier, the Turn 1 contact was unlikely to be viewed as an entirely separate incident.

And the chaos did not end there. Hocevar spun around, while Logano was also caught in the mess. The No. 77 Ford came down on the No. 88, leaving Logano with what was described as “a little scrape on the right front.”

For Connor Zilisch, it was another frustrating chapter in a rookie season where incidents have repeatedly threatened to overshadow his obvious speed.

Carson Hocevar’s spin adds to Loudon chaos

Carson Hocevar’s afternoon took another unwanted turn when he found himself involved in another incident at New Hampshire. The Spire Motorsports driver had already been at the center of attention before the race even got underway after spinning during the pace laps on the wet track.

That earlier moment drew plenty of reactions, including one from Joey Logano, who had a front-row view of Hocevar’s mistake.

“Look at this guy. Look at this idiot,” Logano said as Hocevar lost control of his Chevrolet.

The situation was particularly amusing because the two drivers had taken opposite positions on whether the track was ready for racing. Joey Logano and his team had made it clear they were “Team thumbs down,” while Hocevar was apparently more willing to get the show underway.

Carson Hocevar was trying to gather information about the track before the green flag dropped. Unfortunately, losing control during the pace lap made the decision look considerably worse.

Later in the race, Hocevar’s contact with Zilisch produced another spin, this time with much greater consequences. Joey Logano was also collected, leaving the Team Penske driver with damage and maybe better choices of words on the radio.