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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
Corey Heim Makes His Feelings on Carson Hocevar Crystal Clear
Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar have become two of NASCAR’s brightest young stars. They’ve also become one of the sport’s most compelling rivalries.
Their latest chapter unfolded during Sunday’s Brickyard 400, where the two drivers raced each other aggressively throughout the afternoon before Heim pulled away to capture the biggest victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career. Even after climbing from his No. 67 Toyota in Victory Lane, however, questions quickly shifted from the race itself to Hocevar.
Heim’s response left little doubt about where he stands.
Heim isn’t interested in talking about Hocevar
The tension between the two resurfaced during a cycle of green-flag pit stops at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
After blending back onto the track behind the race-leading Heim, Hocevar found himself pinned behind the 23XI Racing driver, who used aerodynamic blocking to keep the No. 77 Chevrolet from making a move. A few laps later, as Heim peeled onto pit road, Hocevar pulled alongside and flashed his middle finger before continuing around the track.
Heim ultimately got the last laugh, winning the Brickyard 400 while Hocevar finished ninth.
Asked afterward about the latest incident between the two, Heim pushed back on the attention surrounding the rivalry.
“Where did he finish today?… You guys love talking about a guy who finished ninth. I mean, holy crap,” Heim said. “Yeah, I mean, all I did was make sure he stayed behind me, and I did, and I finished in front of him. I don’t worry about a narrative or a genre. Like, he’s got a ton of talent, and he’s going to win a lot of races, and I’m focused on myself and trying to do the same. That’s really all there is to it.”
While Heim acknowledged Hocevar’s talent, he also made it clear he had little interest in discussing a rivalry he believes has become a bigger storyline than the race itself.
Their rivalry has been building for years
The friction between Heim and Hocevar didn’t begin in the Cup Series.
Their history dates back to the 2023 Craftsman Truck Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway, when contact between the two contenders helped derail Heim’s title hopes. Later in the race, Heim returned the favor, laying the foundation for what has become one of NASCAR’s most talked-about rivalries.
The back-and-forth has only intensified since both drivers reached NASCAR’s premier series.
At the inaugural Cup race on the streets of San Diego earlier this season, Heim bumped Hocevar in the closing laps before driving away for his first Cup Series victory. Afterward, Heim referenced Hocevar’s own past comments, writing on social media, “Well, just get the [expletive] out of the way, and there wouldn’t be a wreck. You know what I mean? Just move. Just move out of the way.”
Hocevar later joked on the “Dale Jr. Download” that Heim must not have had cell service because he never called into the winner’s interview segment.
The Brickyard 400 became the latest chapter.
After flashing what he described as a “big fat L” toward Hocevar during the post-race celebration, Heim added another jab during an appearance on the “Door, Bumper, Clear” podcast.
“In honor of Carson, I’ve got my ring on my middle finger.”
With both drivers emerging as legitimate Cup Series contenders , there is little reason to believe the rivalry will fade anytime soon. If anything, Indianapolis showed that every time Heim and Hocevar find themselves racing around each other, another memorable chapter is likely to follow.
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