Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Heat for Hocevar and officiating frustrations

JHby:Jonathan Howard•02/24/25•

Jondean25

Christopher Bell NASCAR Atlanta victory lane
Mandatory Credit: Jason Allen-Imagn Images

Two weeks into the NASCAR Cup Series season and we have our first major controversy as officials threw the caution flag to end the race. Last week at Daytona and the night before in the Xfinity Series race at Atlanta, officials made it seem like things were trending towards racing to the line.

There is good reason not to race to the line when cars wreck. For one, time is crucial if and when a driver is injured. No matter what anyone says, seconds matter. But NASCAR backed themselves into a corner with a week of talk and action to back that talk.

Let’s get into what went down at Atlanta. Then we can turn the page and focus our attention on COTA.

Kyle Busch puts on a show in Truck Series

67 wins in 176 starts in the Truck Series. What more can you say about Kyle Busch? This time around he gave fans a last lap, photo finish pass at the line.

Stewart Friesen lost out on the win, but Busch notched another one in epic fashion. Always a showman, Busch found a way to get it done again.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. loves the new Atlanta

Between Kyle Busch, the Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series action – Dale Earnhardt Jr. was thoroughly entertained by Atlanta. The Hall of Famer is a big fan of the new configuration.

You can’t deny the racing is exciting. This might be the best track in NASCAR right now for spectators and fans. Dale Jr. seems to think so.

Connor Zilisch has door troubles

While he ran near the front for many laps, Connor Zilisch had issues in Atlanta. He was involved in a late wreck that ripped his passenger side door panel off the car. Foam was all over the track.

Zilisch’s team tried to tape the door back. However, the cool temperatures in Atlanta didn’t allow the bear bond to adhere to the car. So, he caused another caution and was out of the race.

Austin Hill owns Atlanta NASCAR Xfinity Series race

In the Xfinity Series race, Austin Hill won his fifth Atlanta race in the last seven attempts. He has owned this track since the reconfiguration.

Dominant is not strong enough a word for what Hill does at this track. In this case, NASCAR let the leaders race to the line as the field wrecked, but hold that thought.

Dodge to enter Truck Series, Cup Series in near future

Off the track, rumors about Dodge reentering NASCAR popped up. The word is that Dodge wants to enter the Truck Series in 2026 and then field a Cup Series team in 2027.

Four manufacturers in NASCAR again and the fourth is Dodge? What year is it right now?

Corey Heim official with 23XI Racing

Big news for Corey Heim. He isn’t just a simulator and reserve driver for 23XI Racing anymore. Heim is officially a development driver for the organization.

Could Heim be waiting his time for that third Cup seat to open up? How secure is Riley Herbst in the 35 car? Heim will have Xfinity Series starts with Sam Hunt Racing and also select Cup starts with 23XI.

NASCAR admits mistake in Xfinity Series race

Going back to the Xfinity Series race, NASCAR made a mistake. After letting the Daytona 500 go to the line, saying they should have let the Duel 2 race go to the line, and then letting the Xfinity Series race to the line in Atlanta, NASCAR went back on its decision.

Officials admitted that they had made a mistake. They should have thrown the caution in the Xfinity Series race and told Cup drivers to expect the caution to be thrown in a similar situation in their race.

Carson Hocevar pisses everybody off

From the start, Carson Hocevar pissed everyone off at Atlanta. The Spire Motorsports driver started P26 and finished P2. He made a lot of folks mad in that process.

Kyle Busch was threatening to wreck the entire field to get back at Hocevar. Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain both talked to the 22-year-old after the race.

Drivers mad about rules that are clear

Another funny phenomenon going on is drivers being upset about the new, clearer and better Damaged Vehicle Policy. Ty Dillon was upset that he was towed to the garage when he was unable to drive to pit road on his own.

It is simple. If you can drive on your own power, go to pit road for repairs. If not, you get towed to the garage. This policy is much better than the previous way of doing things and drivers have to realize that.

NASCAR throws the caution, right call – wrong time?

For over a decade, NASCAR has been throwing the caution on the last lap when a wreck happens on the track. Fronstretch, backstretch, in the trioval, the caution comes out quickly.

That is for safety. Plain and simple. When cars are going at right angles into the outside wall and sliding up and down the track, the flag has to get thrown. After all the talk and action to the contrary, NASCAR threw the yellow at Atlanta. Now fans are crying for consistency.