Data has provided a new look at an on-track incident at Martinsville Speedway involving Spire Motorsports' Carson Hocevar and Team Penske's Austin Cindric.
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Former crew chief Steve Letarte and former driver Jamie McMurray — both now analysts — said that the evidence is clear that Hocevar intentionally brake checked Cindric to damage his car.
Cindric's view of the incidents with Hocevar. pic.twitter.com/wByqF9DclY
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) November 1, 2026
Multiple times during the second stage of Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway, Hocevar appeared to brake check Cindric behind him. The result is that Cindric's No. 2 repeatedly slammed into the rear of Hocevar's No. 77.
The car had the softer front bumper designed for short track races, so this caused terminal damage. Cindric declined to speak with media after exiting the race on Lap 222 while Hocevar repeatedly denied any ill intent.
Veteran crew chief-turned-analyst Steve Letarte and driver-turned-analyst Jamie McMurray sat down on Inside the Race and further examined the incident in which Hocevar suddenly slowed no fewer than three times.
They examined SMT data and showed the exact moments when Hocevar applied the brakes, as well as how hard he hit the pedal.
What does the data say?@SteveLetarte and @jamiemcmurray break down the contact between @CarsonHocevar and @AustinCindric. pic.twitter.com/xKiHnNhM2K
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 2, 2026
The clip they examined showed Cindric pulling behind Hocevar on the frontstretch. The Spire Motorsports driver then appeared to hit the brakes coming across the start-finish line.
"That is 1,000 pounds of brake pressure on the 77 car (Hocevar)," Letarte said while showing spikes in the data. "He gets off the brakes and then back on the brakes to make the corner."
The SMT data then showed that Hocevar released the brake pedal before easing onto it again entering Turn 1. He then appeared to hit the brakes again exiting Turn 2.
"That is simple as driving down I-77 (in North Carolina) and stomping on the brakes," Letarte added.
McMurray then chimed in and said that this 1,023 pounds of pressure is "all that Carson can give it." He added that Cindric did not have any way to defend this move.
But while both analysts said that the evidence is clear, Hocevar did not say anything damning. He knows that admitting that he intentionally wrecked another driver would potentially lead to a fine or a suspension.
Hocevar has been called to the hauler this season and been involved in multiple incidents. This includes a sitdown at Atlanta Motor Speedway with NASCAR as part of an ongoing feud with Zane Smith. He also fought Ryan Blaney on pit road.
"No, I mean, I got full throttled here in the spring and I just think it's Martinsville," Hocevar told USA Sports when asked about the incident.
"I had a lot of fun and I think me and Austin have raced each other really well — or at least I've been pointed him by a lot. His cars have been really fast. So, no, I just think that's just Martinsville and I think we were just having fun."
