The air at Martinsville crackled with tension during Sunday’s Xfinity 500, where a hard-fought battle turned raw in an instant. Carson Hocevar, hustling his No. 77 Spire Chevrolet through Turn 2, felt the sharp nudge from behind, Daniel Suárez’s No. 99 Trackhouse Chevy tagging his bumper and sending him into a frustrating spin.

Over the radio, Hocevar’s voice cut through the static: “F–k him.” That unfiltered burst captured the heat of the moment. Check it out:

Carson Hocevar spins and the caution is out on Lap 216.

📺: NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/M0cI1rPq7x

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 26, 2025

What started as a track contact quickly turned into something bigger. Hocevar‘s spin dropped him from his 25th position, fueling that radio rant amid a race. Suárez, meanwhile, moved on, but the bump wasn’t malicious—just aggressive racing at the paperclip. For Hocevar, though, it stung even more — little did he know, fate had a twist waiting for next season.

“F**k him” – Hocevar on the radio about Suarez#NASCAR #Xfinity500

— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) October 26, 2025

The real kicker? Suárez isn’t just a rival — they both are about to be teammates next year. Spire recently announced the Mexican star will pilot its No. 7 Chevrolet in 2026, slotting in alongside Hocevar and veteran Michael McDowell. That “F–k him” now echoes awkwardly, sparking whispers about a tense moment with someone he’ll be working alongside next season.

With Hocevar’s bold style clashing against Suárez’s fire, this could brew into Spire‘s next big intra-team saga. That raw edge didn’t stay contained to the track— fans lit up social media, dissecting the irony with sharp takes and knowing nods.

Echoes in the garage

“I’m sure his relationship with Suarez will be just as good as his relationship with McDowell because, as we’ve seen they’ve totally gotten along well with each other.” It’s a fair jab; back in August at Watkins Glen, McDowell spun Hocevar out on lap 52 while battling for position, leaving the rookie fuming and radio-silent since.

Hocevar later warned he’d retaliate if needed, but the duo’s silence speaks volumes in a sport where crew chiefs try to settle beefs over coffee. At Spire, where resources are tight, this pattern risks fracturing focus before 2026 even kicks off.

Diving deeper into the chatter, another voice cut straight: “Don’t worry, he’ll have the same attitude when they are teammates.” Hocevar’s reputation as a lone wolf backs it. Earlier this year at Atlanta, his career-best P2 came amid aggressive moves that annoyed a few drivers. That fearless drive landed him at Spire full-time in 2024, but it also means Suárez might walk into a shop where handshakes come slow.

“Let’s be honest, Hocevar is teammates with no one.” It’s harsh but rooted in his own words—on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, the 22-year-old admitted, “I don’t really talk to anybody,” leaving Junior surprised at the isolation in a garage that was built on bonds. From ARCA days to Cup, Hocevar has climbed solo, prioritizing speed over making friends in the sport, a trait that thrills fans but tests team chemistry.

Another fan commented about the history that these three about-to-be Spire teammates share. “So now all three future Spire drivers have history.” Spot on—Suárez and McDowell traded fists on pit road during 2019 Phoenix qualifying. Yet Suárez recently shared how they both have moved on from that fight and are now good friends. For Hocevar, joining that trio means navigating grudges that could either explode or evolve.

Daniel Suarez will be teammates with Michael McDowell at Spire Motorsports, years after they got in a fight on pit road during qualifying at Phoenix in 2019.

Suarez referenced that fight and said he and McDowell actually became very close afterwards. Says McDowell called him… pic.twitter.com/VVYsWMRa7M

— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 22, 2025

Finally, a poetic nod summed the vibe: “Silence lay steadily against the roar and rattle of the NASCAR garage, and whenever he walked there, ‘he walked alone,’ Mah boi Carson ‘The Instigator’ Hocevar.” It echoes his Dale Jr. personality, where he was also unapologetic.

As Kyle Petty also once noted, he does not race to make friends in the sport; he races to win. But as Spire Motorsports is going through a change, will “The Instigator” find footing or keep stirring solo?