The Dale Jr. Download – “Atlanta: When Will Hocevar’s Driving Cost Him?”
Episode date: February 24, 2026
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. with TJ Majors and Russell
Network: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM
Episode Overview
This episode, hosted by legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., dives into the drama and fallout from NASCAR’s recent Atlanta race, with a sharp focus on Carson Hocevar’s aggressive driving style and when or whether it will catch up with him. Dale Jr., TJ Majors, and Russell dissect defining moments from Atlanta, evaluate the Spire team’s progress, debate the ethics and future consequences of overly aggressive tactics, and touch on the ongoing JGR-Gabehart lawsuit. Other highlights include discussions on Bubba Wallace’s critical restart decision, Junior Motorsports updates, and an entertaining listener Q&A.
Key Discussion Points
1. Atlanta Race Breakdown & Track Characteristics
[03:42 – 06:09]
- Dale Jr. and TJ Majors debate whether Atlanta is currently the best ticket in NASCAR:
- Dale Jr.: “In my opinion, [Atlanta] the best ticket on the series right now.”
- TJ Majors counters with Bristol, Charlotte, Kansas, but Dale asserts Atlanta’s consistency in delivering exciting races.
- Key insight: Atlanta’s track surface is aging rapidly (“a little sand belt” region), making handling more crucial as grip deteriorates annually.
2. Carson Hocevar’s Aggressive Style Under Scrutiny
[06:09 – 13:59]
The Bell Incident
- Hocevar wrecked Bell in the closing laps. Multiple race incidents involving Hocevar, including with Joey Logano, reignite old debates about his approach.
- TJ: “Was Logano on his [Hocevar’s] fault?... Yes, it was Hocevar’s fault.”
- Dale Jr. analyzes the driving code:
- “If I’m on the inside and I see you off the right front, it’s kinda my job not to run into you.”
- Verdict: “70-30, Hocevar-Lagano” – Hocevar bears most responsibility.
Accountability and Consequences
- Dale: “No way around this... Hocevar is fully to blame for what happened right there.” [10:00]
- Is karma coming? Dale’s stance: “I get so sick of that ‘somebody’s going to get him back’... Eventually, enough’s enough, and somebody will drop the hammer.” [12:13]
- TJ: “I just don’t know... Like, if he doesn’t...what’s the timeline for this? But does he have to win? He’s got to win eventually, right? Or he’s got to run good.” [14:59]
Will Hocevar Change?
- Dale believes Hocevar is unlikely to fundamentally change:
- “This is who he is, man. This cat’s different... He loves how he drives. He loves his style.” [13:19]
- “He’s not going to listen to [rivals]; he’s going to do what his people tell him to do because those are the people that matter.” [13:27]
- Spire’s culture supports him:
- Russell: “That extension is all we need to know what Spire thinks of him. They’re saying, keep doing you.” [13:59]
The Disruptor Archetype
- Dale draws parallel to Trackhouse’s disruptive philosophy and a young Brad Keselowski:
- “He’s a disruptor... Our sport badly needs a couple guys like that in the field.” [19:49]
- Denny Hamlin, as quoted by Russell, expresses competitor frustration and media approval:
- “He certainly is exciting to watch... but the media loves it. As a competitor, though, it’s going to come back around.” [18:23]
3. Insights into Race Strategy & Bubba Wallace’s Restart
[25:26 – 28:02]
- Bubba loses the lead on a restart. In-depth deconstruction of his move up the track and possible alternatives.
- TJ: “Those runs into three... are so big... That’s too far up. Only you can’t... gotta keep the guy square with you in the mirror.” [25:49]
- Both agree Bubba should have stayed in front of his teammate, Reddick, on the bottom but debate if there was any real path to victory.
4. Junior Motorsports Recap & Lee Pulliam’s Debut
[32:23 – 38:10]
- Dale announces Lee Pulliam will debut in the #9 O’Reilly Series Chevy for Junior Motorsports at Martinsville:
- “Lee’s a winner of over 175 late model stock races, four-time national champion...deserves and earns the chance to see what it feels like at the top three level.” [33:02–35:04]
- Background on Pulliam: Accomplished, never had a national series break, plans no further than this one-race opportunity.
5. JGR vs. Gabehart Lawsuit – Trade Secrets in NASCAR
[38:22 – 50:44]
- Dale and crew recap the lawsuit: allegations that Gabehart took proprietary info from JGR to Spire.
- Russell: “He even had folders labeled Spire Past Setups. This obvious train of concealment... wild.” [41:16]
- Gabehart’s public rebuttal: “...found no evidence to support the baseless allegations in the lawsuit.” [42:34]
- Dale’s perspective:
- “Anytime anybody leaves an organization, they usually get them to sign a non compete clause... because they do not want to race against that information the very next week.” [45:36]
- “Now that we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars...that changes it a lot.” [49:56]
- Consensus: Lawsuits over info are unlikely at lower levels but plausible in top-tier cup racing due to financial stakes.
6. Listener Q&A – ‘Ask Junior’ Segment
[55:58 – 80:25]
3D Printing at Home
- Dale discusses fixing light fixtures with custom-printed parts:
- “I printed 24 of them... Got all my fixtures up in the closet. Ain’t gonna have to buy new stuff.” [56:51–59:07]
- Enjoyment in practical household uses, learning from the community, and engaging with fans.
Hypothetical & Fun Questions
- “If you could shoot five different liquids out of your fingers, what would you pick?”
- Tongue-in-cheek debate about using valuable liquids (gasoline, gold) vs. sauces (Buffalo, ranch).
Retired Cup Drivers in Trucks?
- Dale would “love to see Jeff Gordon run another race... He’s a big part of HMS, and every chance I get, I rib him about running one more race.” [75:54]
Simulation/iRacing
- Which tracks should be added? Dale pushes for Winchester, Salem, and Berlin, citing their short-track pedigree. [77:15–80:25]
Keelan Harvick’s Move to Toyota
- Dale: “It’s a massive win for Kevin and Delana... At some point, [Keelan] has to get picked up, and this is a massive, massive relief for his parents.” [80:31]
7. Dirty Mo Dough – Road Course Betting Preview
[83:44 – 101:02]
- Discussing betting odds for the upcoming COTA race:
- SVG (Shane van Gisbergen) is the consensus favorite:
- “I would bet it... Plus money, any time.” [90:12]
- “He’s won five of the last six [road courses]. How could he be plus money?” [90:31]
- Best bets: Bell, Byron, Reddick, Buescher, Chastain, Elliott, Larson, Bowman as road course standouts.
- SVG (Shane van Gisbergen) is the consensus favorite:
- Sleepers: Chris Buescher and Alex Bowman.
- “Bowman hasn’t finished outside the top 10 at COTA.” [89:07]
- Betting matchups are dissected for value bets, with the team generally cautioning against overestimating newcomers (Zilisch).
- O’Reilly Series betting: SVG vs. Zilisch—expect close racing; Zilisch seen as having an edge at COTA.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Dale Jr. on Carson Hocevar’s blame in crashes:
- “There’s no way around this... Hocevar is fully to blame for what happened right there.” [10:00]
- On being an agitator:
- “He’s a disruptor. Our sport badly needs a couple guys like that in the field.” [19:49]
- On industry culture:
- “The media loves it, by the way. Just ask them and they’ll tell you. Well, no question you do, because he’s giving you some content.” Russell quoting Denny Hamlin [18:23]
- Dale on track bar code for drivers:
- “We had a code for what we thought about a driver’s mentality... like the bars of service on your cell phone. We had one bar, two bars, three bars, four bars.” [22:00]
- JGR/Gabehart lawsuit:
- “Anytime anybody leaves an organization, they usually get them to sign a non compete clause... because they do not want to race against that information the next week.” [45:36]
- Retired competitors racing again:
- “It ain’t about win or losing at this point. It’s about fun. Yeah. It’s about smelling the smells, hearing the sounds, getting your heartbeat.” [76:39]
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Atlanta track analysis & ticket debate | 03:42 – 06:09 | | Hocevar/Logano/Bell incidents + Hocevar’s style | 06:09 – 13:59 | | “When and how will it catch up to him?” | 10:25 – 14:59 | | Spire approach & the 'disruptor' mentality | 13:59 – 19:49 | | Bubba Wallace’s restart breakdown | 25:26 – 28:02 | | Dale Jr. announces Lee Pulliam’s O’Reilly debut | 32:23 – 38:10 | | JGR-Gabehart lawsuit deep dive | 38:22 – 50:44 | | 3D printing, household hacks, and fan engagement | 55:58 – 61:11 | | Listener Q&A (fun, lighthearted) | 67:10 – 74:00 | | Betting/Dirty Mo Dough (COTA odds discussion) | 83:44 – 101:02 |
Summary
“Atlanta: When Will Hocevar’s Driving Cost Him?” showcases why Dale Jr. Download remains a must-listen for NASCAR fans: authentic, immediate reactions from people deeply connected to the sport, unvarnished opinions about drivers, and thoughtful, granular race analysis. Dale and his crew put Carson Hocevar’s reputation as NASCAR’s wild child under a microscope, debating not just his culpability for recent wrecks but also his long-term impact and the culture—good and bad—of disruptors in the sport. The episode also covers the fast-changing competitive landscape at Spire, the professional and legal risks of crew chief moves, nuts-and-bolts garage talk, and the colorful personalities that animate NASCAR both on and off track.
Disclaimer: Timestamps are approximate and mark the beginning of each segment.