Carson Hocevar was at the center of a significant incident at the start of the NASCAR Chicago street race, leading to a seven-car crash during the Grant Park 165 event. The wreck occurred on lap 3 when Hocevar clipped the inside of the turn 11 curve, which sent his car spinning into the outside wall before it ricocheted back into the field.
As Hocevar’s car came to a stop, it left other drivers with no escape routes. Austin Dillon was the first driver affected, but he was soon joined by Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, Will Brown, and Riley Herbst, all of whom were caught up in the chaos. The race had to be paused with a red flag to allow officials to assess the damage and untangle the vehicles involved.
Previously, Hocevar had secured a strong starting position by qualifying third in the race, highlighting his potential in the competition. Meanwhile, Shane van Gisbergen, who claimed victory in the Xfinity race on July 5 at the same venue, took the pole for the Cup Series race, with Michael McDowell following in second place.
This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and high-stakes nature of NASCAR racing, especially in a street course environment where space is limited and margins for error are slim. Fans of the sport are sure to be eager for updates and further developments as the race continues post-accident.