“He doesn’t deserve to be in a major race…” — Carson Hocevar Files Explosive Complaint Against Bubba Wallace for Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Deliberate Wrecking in Season-Opening Clash, Exposes Alleged Hidden Crime and Forces NASCAR to Launch Full Investigation Just Days Before the Daytona 500

NASCAR’s 2026 season is only one race old, and already it’s engulfed in its most serious off-track scandal in years.

Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar has formally filed a complaint with NASCAR accusing Bubba Wallace of unsportsmanlike conduct and intentionally causing a multi-car accident during yesterday’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium – the exhibition opener that served as the first competitive event of the new season.

In a blistering 14-word statement delivered to NASCAR officials and leaked to media shortly after, the 20-year-old Hocevar did not mince words:

“He doesn’t deserve to be in a major race.”

The accusation centers on a violent incident in the closing laps when Wallace’s No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota made aggressive contact with Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet, sending the younger driver spinning through the infield grass and triggering a chain-reaction wreck that collected several cars. Hocevar claims the move was not hard racing but a deliberate act of retaliation and foul play.

According to sources familiar with the complaint, Hocevar’s filing includes:

In-car video from multiple angles showing Wallace drifting up the track and pinching Hocevar into the wall. Telemetry data allegedly demonstrating no defensive necessity for the move. Witness statements from crew members and spotters describing the contact as “avoidable and intentional.” A separate allegation that Wallace concealed prior damage or mechanical issues that should have sidelined the car earlier – what Hocevar’s team is calling a “hidden crime” under NASCAR’s safety and competition rules.

NASCAR confirmed late last night that it has opened a formal investigation into the incident:

“NASCAR is reviewing all available video, in-car data, telemetry, and statements related to the contact between the No. 23 and No. 77 during the Cook Out Clash. Any violation of the Member Conduct or Competition Rules will be addressed through the disciplinary process. An update will be provided when the review is complete.”

The timing could not be more critical. The Daytona 500 – NASCAR’s biggest event and the official season opener – is now just 12 days away. If the investigation finds evidence of deliberate action or rule violations, penalties could include:

Suspension or points deductions for Wallace Fines and probation for 23XI Racing Possible loss of playoff points or charter benefits In extreme cases, exclusion from select events – including the Daytona 500 itself

Wallace has not yet commented publicly on the complaint. 23XI Racing co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin issued a joint statement: “Bubba races hard and competes with integrity. We trust the NASCAR process and will address any findings when they are released.”

But the damage to Wallace’s reputation – already polarizing since the 2020 noose incident – is mounting rapidly. Social media is ablaze with #HocevarWasRight and #SuspendBubba trending globally, while Wallace supporters counter with #LetThemRace and accusations that Hocevar is using the incident to build his own profile.

Hocevar, one of NASCAR’s brightest young talents and a fan favorite for his fearless style, doubled down in a brief follow-up comment to reporters outside the garage:

“I’m not here to start drama. I’m here to race clean and win. But when someone turns left into you on purpose and tries to hide damage that should’ve parked them earlier, that’s not racing – that’s dangerous. NASCAR has to do something, or it’s open season on every driver.”

The allegation of concealed damage – if substantiated – would represent a serious violation of NASCAR’s safety and competition rules, potentially triggering additional penalties beyond the on-track contact itself.

The fallout has divided the garage. Veteran drivers like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have stayed mostly silent, while younger drivers and underdog teams quietly support Hocevar’s stance. Veteran spotters and crew chiefs have privately told media the contact “looked intentional,” though few are willing to go on record.

NASCAR now faces immense pressure. A strong penalty against Wallace risks backlash from corporate partners and diversity advocates who have long championed the driver. A light or no penalty risks accusations of favoritism and further erodes trust in officiating – already fragile after years of controversial calls.

The Daytona 500 media day begins in days. The Great American Race was supposed to launch the new season with hope and excitement. Instead, it arrives under the shadow of a potential driver-versus-driver feud, an integrity investigation, and the very real possibility that one of NASCAR’s most polarizing stars could face suspension from the sport’s biggest event.

Carson Hocevar has drawn his line in the sand. Bubba Wallace stands accused. NASCAR must decide – and decide quickly.

The 2026 season opener is no longer just about who wins the Daytona 500. It’s about whether the sport can survive the firestorm it’s now facing.

And the green flag hasn’t even dropped yet.