Chris Buescher typically doesn’t engage much on social media, but his phone buzzed nonstop on Thursday after Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson hinted that Buescher’s No. 17 car might get caught up in the escalating conflict between Brad Keselowski and Carson Hocevar. The tension arose when Keselowski crashed early in last Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway following contact with Hocevar, which left Keselowski visibly angry and vowing retribution in a post-race interview.
Though Keselowski took a more measured tone during Saturday’s press conference, he made it clear the issue with Hocevar wasn’t settled. Dickerson warned that if Keselowski seeks payback, the two RFK Racing drivers competing in the NASCAR Chase could also get involved. Speaking on The Athletic’s Gluckcast, Dickerson said, “We don’t want to start a wrecking war… If Brad tries to dump Carson, then Carson might target Chris Buescher. There are all these unspoken rules — Chase versus non-Chase drivers. Brad knows these rules, he wrote them. So if a non-Chase driver crosses a line, well, whatever happens, happens.” He added firmly, “If Carson is wrecked, there will be an equal response.”
Both Keselowski and teammate Michael McDowell expressed readiness to respond aggressively. Keselowski said bluntly, “Bring it. I’ll stand my ground with anyone in the garage.” Preece also issued a warning: “Be careful what you look for because you might just find it.”
Meanwhile, Buescher found the whole situation absurd and criticized Dickerson’s remarks as “dumb,” insisting that his team wants no part in the drama. “We just ignore the stupidity and keep moving,” Buescher said. “I don’t get why we’re involved in this story at all. I try to avoid social media, but these things still find their way to me.” Currently, Buescher ranks 11th in the championship, Preece 15th, and Hocevar 12th. Keselowski, having missed the playoff cut, arguably has little to risk in retaliation since losing points won’t affect his standings and any penalties won’t impact his ownership of RFK Racing.
Hocevar, on his part, believes the drama benefits NASCAR by drawing attention. “I see myself all over TikTok and social media, with some clips hitting over a million views,” he said. “It’s not just typical NASCAR fans watching. Historically, heated rivalries have made NASCAR memorable — like Kevin Harvick vs. Ricky Rudd or Dale Earnhardt vs. Terry Labonte. These moments create stories people talk about for years, even if the races themselves aren’t always perfect.”
Fan Take: This brewing feud highlights how on-track incidents can ignite intense rivalries that capture fan interest and boost NASCAR’s visibility beyond traditional audiences. While the escalating tension poses risks for future crashes, it also adds a dramatic narrative that keeps fans hooked and engaged throughout the season.
Source: www.motorsport.com
