Carson Hocevar reflects on his career-best second-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway, addressing criticisms about his aggressive racing style while remaining unapologetic about pursuing victory.

Despite post-race conversations with Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney, Hocevar maintains that most feedback has been positive. The rookie driver's aggressive moves, including a three-wide maneuver on the backstretch between Chastain and Bell, drew attention from fellow competitors and fans alike.

"I'm not going to apologize for having a shot to win the race and seeing a trophy," Hocevar stated before the Circuit of The Americas event. He acknowledged that while some of his actions required apologies, particularly to Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet, the overall response from his team at Spire has been encouraging.

Hocevar specifically addressed his incident with Ryan Blaney, where contact with 27 laps remaining caused the 2023 series champion to spin in Turn 1. "Obviously, it worked out for him, so that conversation was quick because he wasn't as mad because he finished right next to me and had a shot to win," Hocevar explained.

The young driver recognizes the need to balance aggression with respect on the track, noting that being the new competitor up front comes with challenges. He emphasized that the current NASCAR car rewards aggressive driving, particularly when combined with a fast vehicle.

Moving forward, Hocevar aims to maintain his competitive edge while refining his approach to avoid unnecessary incidents. He acknowledges the value of learning from established drivers like Blaney and Chastain while staying true to his racing style.

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