Pit This Time | Podcast on RSS.com

Pit This Time

by Andrew Ravens

Connor Zilisch Reveals Why Carson Hocevar Hooked Him

Connor Zilisch has revealed the backstory behind Carson Hocevar hooking him at New Hampshire, and it starts before the race even began. Speaking on Stacking Pennies, Zilisch said the friction began in practice, when he came off turn four, got up to Hocevar and touched his left rear — contact he described as accidental and not egregious, not even enough to knock the toe out. According to Zilisch, Hocevar's response a lap later was to throw a big slider and try to wreck him, in practice. Then in the race, Zilisch says he barely touched him again off turn four from a tight spot in the middle of three cars, and guesses that's what sent Hocevar over the edge because of what had already happened. He also pointed out that Hocevar knew exactly where he was, because his spotter was calling him there. Hocevar has publicly said he spun himself out. 0:00 – Setup: Controversy Between Connor Zilisch & Carson Hocevar at New Hampshire 0:45 – Zilisch Details Saturday Practice Contact & Hocevar's Retaliation Attempt 1:40 – In-Race Contact Breakdown & Hocevar Spun Off Zilisch’s Bumper 2:10 – Carson Hocevar's Post-Race Response Taking Full Responsibility 3:10 – Evaluating Driver Personalities, Emotion, & Public Image 4:35 – Looking Ahead to Daytona: Resetting for the Chase

Denny Hamlin Torches Trackhouse Over Connor Zilisch's Departure

0:00 – Connor Zilisch Moving to Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 in 2028 & Red Bull Sponsorship Conflict 0:40 – Denny Hamlin's Take: Hendrick's "Buy Low" Opportunity & Trackhouse’s Developmental Costs 1:40 – Driver Accountability: Analyzing Zilisch's Inexperience & Avoidable Incidents 2:35 – Coaching Breakdown: Analyzing the New Hampshire Wreck & Driving Through Smoke 4:30 – Silver Lining & Structural Differences Between Xfinity and Cup Series Racing 5:30 – Financial & Resource Advantage: Why Trackhouse Lost Zilisch to HMS DENNY HAMLIN EXPLAINED THE CONNOR ZILISCH DEAL IN ONE SENTENCE AND IT IS BRUTAL FOR TRACKHOUSE. He said the great news for Rick Hendrick is that Trackhouse did all the development and paid all the money, and Hendrick is going to get the best years. He also called it a buy low opportunity that Hendrick took advantage of, which is a striking way to describe acquiring a 20 year old. But Hamlin did not hand Zilisch a free pass either. He said he does not put all of the struggles on Trackhouse, and that Zilisch is responsible for at least half of them. His verdict on the wrecks people blamed on bad luck is even blunter.

Bubba Wallace Says He Fails His Team A Lot

0:00 – Introduction: Bubba Wallace’s Post-Race Media Outbursts 0:45 – New Hampshire Practice Struggles & Late-Race Charge Behind Blaney 1:45 – Post-Race Radio Reactions & Standings Breakdown (14th in Chase) 2:30 – Analyzing Wallace's Public Self-Criticism & Team Loyalty 3:50 – Denny Hamlin's Co-Owner Perspective on Managing Emotions

Is Drama Brewing Between Denny Hamlin And Ryan Blaney?

Denny Hamlin has shut down suggestions of a brewing feud with Ryan Blaney after the two made contact for the second consecutive week, but Blaney's radio tells a different story. At Richmond it was Hamlin who put the bumper to Blaney. At New Hampshire the roles reversed, with Blaney returning it and Hamlin responding by lightly dooring him on the way past — after which Blaney keyed up and asked his spotter whether Hamlin had forgotten running him over the previous week. Asked about it on Actions Detrimental, Hamlin's answer was immediate and dismissive, calling it coincidental twice before explaining that Blaney was frustrated at a pit crew mistake and had no time to mess around, and pointing out there were four lanes of track available to go around. Hamlin also revealed he called Blaney's winning two-tire move in advance, and explained why he couldn't do the same thing. The two sit first and second in the Chase standings. 0:00 – Addressing Rumors of Drama Between Denny Hamlin & Ryan Blaney 0:45 – Reviewing Recent On-Track Contact at Richmond & New Hampshire 1:55 – Hamlin's Actions Detrimental Response: Single-Groove Racing Realities 3:30 – Tire Strategy Breakdown: Two Tires vs. Four Tires at New Hampshire 5:15 – Outlook for the Chase: Hamlin & Blaney Sitting #1 and #2

Josh Berry Has A Message For NASCAR Owners

TEN AND HE STILL DOES NOT HAVE A RIDE FOR 2027. That streak is the first of its kind for Wood Brothers Racing since Morgan Shepherd did it in 1994. Berry was announced back in June as being replaced in the No. 21 by Jesse Love. Asked what he says to teams still questioning whether he belongs in the Cup Series, his answer was four words long. He also said the thing everyone in this sport knows and nobody says on the record, about what actually determines who gets a seat. And the way he drove at New Hampshire told you everything the quotes did not. Where does Josh Berry end up? 0:00 – Josh Berry Finishes 3rd at New Hampshire & 4-Race Top 10 Streak 0:50 – Address to Critics & Comments on Sponsorship Driving Cup Ride Decisions 2:10 – Aggressive Driving Style & Radio Confrontations Breakdown 3:10 – Evaluates New Hampshire Track Conditions & Racing Quality 4:06 – Credits Improved Equipment & Luck Over Personal Driving Changes 5:15 – The $3 Million Sponsorship Requirement & Unforeseen Cup Garage Realities

Jeff Gordon Has Wild IDEA For Chase Elliott

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAS EVERY SEAT SETTLED THROUGH 2028 EXCEPT ONE, AND IT BELONGS TO THE MOST POPULAR DRIVER IN THE SPORT. William Byron recently extended. Kyle Larson is in the middle of a long term deal. Alex Bowman is on a one year before retiring, with Connor Zilisch signed to take the No. 48 in 2028. Chase Elliott's contract runs out at the end of 2027. Jeff Gordon was pressed on it and said Hendrick wants Elliott to drive there forever, and that they feel very confident. Then he named the complication, and it is not about whether Elliott wants to stay. He also said something about the timing that Hendrick would probably rather he hadn't. Does Chase Elliott finish his career in the No. 9?

Kyle Larson Sends Warning To NASCAR Teams Amid Hendrick’s Struggles

Rick Hendrick spent Tuesday attributing the season to the new Camaro body and saying his team will never surrender. Larson went on the Gluckcast Wednesday and largely echoed him, describing weekends where they feel a small step away and weekends where they feel years from winning. Then he said something about short tracks that the new car cannot explain, and it involves the word historically. He also finished with a warning about what happens when they figure it out. Is Hendrick's problem the Camaro, or something older? 0:00 – Addressing Hendrick Motorsports' Difficult 2026 Season 1:00 – Kyle Larson Reacts to Rick Hendrick's "Won't Ever Surrender" Statement 1:50 – Comparing Toyota's Dominance to Hendrick's Short Track vs. Intermediate Performance 3:10 – Identifying Historical Trouble Tracks (Bristol, Richmond, Loudon, Gateway) 4:15 – Individual Driver Slumps: Elliott, Larson, Byron, and Bowman

Dale Jr. Questions If Ford Really Closed The Gap

Joey Logano credited a recent rule change with helping Ford close the gap on Toyota. Dale Jr. added the part nobody had reported, and it involves walking through the garage before a race and looking under the front splitter. Then he raised the question most people are skipping. Ford's surge has come at Richmond, North Wilkesboro and Loudon, which are tracks Ford has always been good at. He gave a clean test for settling it. Send them to a mile-and-a-half and see who runs up front. And that is exactly the problem, because the schedule will not allow that test to happen when it matters. Is Ford actually back, or is it just the calendar? 0:00 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Questions Ford's Performance Surge vs. Track History 1:00 – Joey Logano Points to Recent NASCAR Rule Changes 2:10 – The Banana Effect: Explaining Toyota's Front Splitter Modifications 3:30 – How NASCAR's Front Strut Rule Adjustment Impacted Aerodynamics 4:31 – Using Intermediate Tracks like Darlington as a True Benchmark

Dale Jr Starts To Panic For Josh Berry's NASCAR Future

DALE EARNHARDT JR. JUST SAID THE QUIET PART ABOUT JOSH BERRY. THERE IS NO SEAT, AND THERE IS NOT EVEN A TEAM STILL DECIDING. Berry has three consecutive top tens, five on the season, and a Cup win at Las Vegas last year. Everyone agrees he deserves a ride. Dale Jr. pointed out that deserving is not the variable. He expects Austin Hill to stay in the RCR No. 33, and thinks Berry's realistic options are in the O'Reilly Series where a couple of cars are not locked down. He was also honest about the part nobody else brings up, which is the reason some owners hesitated in the first place. Then he set a deadline for the entire industry. Where does Josh Berry actually end up?

Rick Hendrick Sends Strong Message Amid Hendrick's 2026 Struggles

Rick Hendrick has addressed the toll of Hendrick Motorsports' worst season in years, calling it disappointing and admitting the organization is used to winning a lot more races. Speaking at the press conference for Connor Zilisch's signing, Hendrick pointed to the new Camaro body introduced this season, which has caused balance and aero issues across Chevrolet teams, reminded people that his organization won the 2025 championship, and said the company is working harder than it ever has. He also emphasized that nobody at Hendrick is pointing fingers, before declaring they are never going to surrender. Jeff Gordon credited Hendrick's leadership directly for all four cars finishing in the top 10 at Richmond. We break down everything both men said, why the Camaro explanation is genuinely true, and the two-year trend in the numbers that a new car body cannot account for.

1 of 2