Carson Hocevar was the talk of the NASCAR Cup Series following his dust-up with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Nashville Superspeedway this past weekend. Dale Earnhardt Jr. made sure to have a couple of words with the young wheelman following the race.

On the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download, the NASCAR Hall of Famer shared what his advice to Hocevar was. It was a poignant statement, and we’ll see over the next couple of weeks if the message sunk in for the Spire Motorsports wheelman.

“I told him after the race, I said, ‘You’re going to win a shit-ton of races.’ I was like, ‘I think the world of you and your talent, but there’ll be times in that booth when I’m just gonna have to say — you know, call it like I think I see it,’ and some drivers do not like that,” Earnhardt Jr. stated. “My buddy, Martin Truex Jr. just gets so annoyed with me. I couldn’t really tell though, because he hardly communicated either way. But we would have some conversations. He’s like, ‘Man, why do you say that?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I got to. You know, it’s kind of what’s happening right now with you.’ But some guys don’t mind it and some guys do.

“Carson’s response to all of that was, ‘I’m just glad you’re talking about me.’ I kind of wanted to use that reference that dad said many years ago, they need to either be cheering you or booing you. When they don’t — when you get up there and they don’t do anything, you’re in big trouble. So, you’ve got to be a driver that’s making or getting a reaction, for fans to have real connection, real value to the sport and the industry and your partners.”

Alas, Hocevar has shown immense speed in 2025, but many within the motorsports world aren’t too keen on his aggressiveness week-in and week-out. Whether he dials it back or not remains to be seen, but he’s continuing to make enemies throughout the season.

It’s led to some solid finishes though. Just look at his runner-up run this past weekend in Nashville. He’s fast, and the wins will come, but he’s not making any friends in the process.

Time will tell when Carson Hocevar gets to Victory Lane, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. recognizes the young man won’t have much help from the field if he continues racing this way. If the past is any indicator though, he might not care very much about that.

The red, white and blue will be traveling 400 miles this weekend in Michigan, all thanks to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The Hyak Motorsports racer will be representing Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer on his No. 47 Chevrolet this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400, and his car will be American flag-themed.

“We didn’t get the result we were after in Nashville, and that’s frustrating for sure. But this team’s got heart. We’ve put in the work this week, and we’re heading to Michigan with a clean state and a fast Real American Beer Chevy,” Stenhouse said in a release.

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive an American flag-themed car this weekend, thanks to Real American Beer. (Real American Beer / Fox News)

“Brother, Michigan knows how to go full throttle, and so does Real American Beer,” Hogan said in a statement of his own. “We’re back on the track, back in the fight and there’s no better time to crack one open and let it rip.”

Real American Beer CEO Terri Francis added, “The partnership with Hyak Motorsports underscores Real American Beer’s commitment to the NASCAR community, especially in markets where beer drinkers are seeking alternatives with real identity and American-made values.”

Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer hit the shelves at Walmart less than a year after launching. (Real American Beer / Fox News)

2025 NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: KYLE LARSON, CHRISTOPHER BELL FAVORED

Jimmy Hart, aka “The Mouth of the South,” will be trackside bringing the heat and handing out the cold ones. He’ll be repping Real American Beer all weekend with a megaphone in hand. If you’re in the infield, you’ll hear him before you see him.

Hogan’s brand was founded in June 2024 and is available in 27 states, quickly becoming a fan favorite among beer drinkers who live for race days, tailgates and flag-flying weekends.

Stenhouse, a two-time Xfinity Series champ, was unable to finish the Cracker Barrel 400 in Nashville Sunday, and he continues to struggle. He has just two top 10 finishes and ranks 18th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings this year.

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan is hoping to unite the country with the launch of Real American Beer, a premium American-made light lager. (Real American Beer)

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He’s hoping he can drink some Real American Beer in victory lane, a spot he landed after the 2023 Daytona 500.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 388
“THE WTF BUCK FLYING CORVETTE SHOW”

SOME WEEKS IT’S HORSEPOWER.
SOME WEEKS IT’S HEAD GAMES.
THIS WEEK? WE’RE TALKIN’ FLIGHT PLANS.

Welcome to The WTF Buck Flying Corvette Show, where things went airborne, Pro Mods went rounds, and racers reminded the world why this is the baddest motorsport on the planet.

First up, Jeff Rudolph. The dude showed out and locked down a Pro Mod win at Donald “Duck” Long’s Shakedown event this past weekend. Big field, big pressure, big performance. He’s comin’ on to break it all down and talk about what it takes to win in that kind of chaos.

Then, we’re chattin’ with the man behind one of the wildest viral clips drag racing’s seen in a minute, Jason Hoard. His nearly brand-new Corvette took FLIGHT in a scary crash at a small no-prep race, mid-track, nose-up, full send. Thankfully, he’s okay, but it was one of those “is this even real?” moments. We’re hearing the story straight from the guy behind the wheel.

And later in the show, Kallee Mills is stopping by fresh off a big W of her own. She’s on the rise, and we’re checkin’ in to hear what went right, how it felt, and what’s next.

Three guests. Three wild stories.
All gas. No filter.

Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter are locked in and ready to roll—LET’S FLY!

DON’T MISS IT! LET’S GOOOOO!

⸻

Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

SUBSCRIBE for the latest in drag racing: @dragillustrated
GRAB YOUR MERCH: dragillustrated.store
STAY CONNECTED: @thewesbuckshow @dragillustrated
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Wanna sponsor the show? Contact us: [email protected]

dragracing #wesbuck #dragillustrated #WTFBuck #FlyingCorvette #JasonHorde #JeffRudolph #CallieMills #ProMod #NoPrep #Shakedown #DuckX #WBS #DI #RacersClub

This story was originally published on June 4, 2025.

Michigan Event Info:
Date: Sunday, June 8
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Brooklyn, Michigan
Format: 200 Laps, 400 Miles, Stages: 45-120-200
TV: Prime
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 9:30 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 10:40 a.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Race (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Michigan International Speedway for the 15^th points race on the schedule.
• Michigan International Speedway serves as ‘home’ for Jack Roush and RFK Racing, located just an hour from Roush Industries in Livonia, Michigan.
• Chris Buescher’s victory two years ago marked Jack Roush’s 14^th all-time in the Cup Series in the backyard of Ford Motor Company, and the first for RFK at Michigan since 2013 (Greg Biffle).

6 Team Info:
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

17 Team Info:
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Kroger / Kraft / Artesano

60 Team Info:
Driver: Ryan Preece
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: Castrol

Keselowski at Michigan
Starts: 27
Wins: —
Top-10s: 15
Poles: 2 (2017, 2019)

• Keselowski makes his 28^th Cup start in Michigan this weekend where he has an average finish of 12.0 and 15 top-10s.
• Despite no wins at his home track, Keselowski has nine results inside the top five with three runner-up finishes (2012, 2018, 2020).
• The Rochester Hills native has seven top-10s in his last 10 starts, and ran fifth a season ago after leading two laps.
• He has two career Cup poles at MIS (2017, 2019) and 10 overall starts inside the top-10.
• Keselowski has an additional nine combined starts at MIS in the Xfinity and Truck Series with two NXS wins (2009, 2010).

Buescher at Michigan
Starts: 14
Wins: 1 (2023)
Top-10s: 3
Poles: 1 (2020)

• Buescher makes his 15^th start at Michigan, where he finished sixth a season ago. In 2023, he found victory lane after starting fourth, including 52 laps led.
• He carries an average starting position of 18.5 with a pole back in 2020, and the P18 starting position last season.
• Buescher also made three NXS starts at MIS and finished top-10 in all three with a best finish of P4 in 2015.

Preece at Michigan
Starts: 7
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

• Preece is set for his eight Cup start at Michigan this weekend, where he posted a career-best finish of seventh at the track in 2019. He is coming off an 11^th-place finish just a season ago.
• Preece holds a 29.0 average starting position at Michigan, with a best career start of 25^th in 2020.
• Preece also made one NXS start at Michigan in 2016.

RFK Historically at Michigan
Cup Wins: 13 (Mark Martin, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998; Matt Kenseth, 2002, 2006; Kurt Busch, 2003; Greg Biffle, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013; Carl Edwards, 2007, 2008; Chris Buescher, 2023)

• Home Sweet Home: Michigan International Speedway serves as ‘home’ for Jack Roush and RFK Racing, located just an hour from Roush Industries in Livonia, Michigan. MIS has naturally been one of the organization’s most successful tracks on the circuit, with the team earning a total of 24 wins across NASCAR’s three major touring series.
• I Said Welcome to Detroit City: In 225 NCS starts at Michigan, RFK has recorded 14 wins, 59 top-fives and 106 top-10 finishes with 2,572 laps led. Greg Biffle’s win back in 2013 was the 1,000th NASCAR victory for Ford Performance.
• Roush vs. Everyone Else: RFK’s 14 wins in the NCS at Michigan are the most of any track on the NCS schedule. Six different drivers have earned victories for RFK at the two-mile oval with former drivers Mark Martin and Biffle both taking the checkered flag on four separate occasions. RFK drivers Matt Kenseth (two), Carl Edwards (two), Kurt Busch (one) and Chris Buescher (one) have also gone to victory lane for the organization in Michigan.
• Consistency in the Motor City: Michigan ranks first overall among all tracks that RFK has competed on in the NCS in top-five finishes, top-10 finishes and in average finish among tracks that they have run two or more races. RFK has recorded 59 top-fives, 106 top-10s and has an average finish of 14.3 at the two-mile oval.

RFK Racing PR

NASCAR co-owner Jim France looked to fund a Cup Series entry in the upcoming race at Sonoma on July 13 – a move that was met with a huge backlash leading to him withdrawing from the plan

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spoken out after news leaked that NASCAR co-owner Jim France was considering funding a Cup Series entry for the upcoming Sonoma race on July 13.

NASCAR CEO Jim France, who is involved in a legal tussle involving 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports, faced intense criticism when it was revealed he intended to support a Spire Motorsports entry for Jack Aitken, who drives for the IMSA sports car team France owns, Action Express Racing.

The Athletic reported that the controversy surrounding the potential conflict of interest prompted France, the son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., to perform a U-turn and withdraw from the deal.

READ MORE: Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin identify future NASCAR Cup Series winnerREAD MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr gives ‘selfish’ advice to Chase Elliott after NASCAR complaint

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his perspective on his podcast, the Dale Jr. Download, remarking: “At this point, it just doesn’t seem like it’s very productive to do it now, and Jim doesn’t need to do it.

“It’s not like a viable business proposition or opportunity that I think that’s necessary for him as a businessman to do it, right?”

“It’s kind of one of them fun things that you kind of want to do with your buddies, but it’s not necessary because dude owns a sport.

“Jim’s not out here trying to fool anybody…Thought it’d be cool, but he probably doesn’t need to be in the same conversation around ownership of an actual physical car on the racetrack as the owner of NASCAR.

“I think that would probably be my preference. I’m not upset about it because I do it on the CARS Tour.”

In his podcast, ‘Actions Detrimental,’ Denny Hamlin admits he fought vehemently against a contentious decision, being 23XI Racing’s co-owner.

“I can tell you as a car owner, I fought very, very hard and opposed the fact that the France family could own charters. I think that’s just wildly conflict of interest,” Hamlin commented.

The Trackhouse Racing development driver is competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports in 2025. He is currently fifth in series standings, including a win at COTA and three pole positions.

The young star stormed onto the scene last year with a range of accomplishments. The Charlotte, North Carolina native won in his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen, claimed two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole positions, and won four ARCA Menards Series races as well as a zMAX CARS Tour race.