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.

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