Carson Hocevar secured his second straight 2.4 Hours of LeMullets title on November 13 by bumping Ty Dillon off the lead on the very last lap. The NASCAR Cup Series driver held off a counterattack at Florida’s Freedom Factory to win alongside Cleetus McFarland. Official results confirmed Dillon finished just 0.994 seconds behind while Denny Hamlin took third place. This victory marks a rare repeat performance for the team in this chaotic exhibition event.
The race turned into a physical brawl as the field approached the white flag. Hocevar hit Dillon’s rear bumper to push the No. 10 out of the way. Dillon tried to fight back in Turn 1 but ran wide and nearly hit a tractor tire. Hocevar used the mistake to slide sideways, brush Dillon again, and grab the lead for good. Both drivers kept fighting until the checkered flag.
The Bumper Economics of Revenge
Hocevar knew exactly what he was doing when he chose the front bumper over the back. He referenced a costly crash from his regular Cup Series season to explain his caution. Hocevar joked about his eventful NASCAR Cup Series season when he addressed the scuffle during his post-race interview. “Yeah, I’m glad it was the front bumper. The back bumper was pretty expensive last time I used that,” Hocevar said, according to Racing News. He was talking about a brake-check incident with Austin Cindric at Martinsville that led to a $100,000 fine and a suspension.
This race offered a clean slate where aggressive driving was celebrated rather than penalized. Hocevar posted video from his point of view showing how quickly he had to steer the Crown Victoria on the short oval.
Hamlin Survived the Chaos to Podium
Denny Hamlin finished third despite his No. 11 Crown Victoria suffering major mechanical issues. Radiator damage and a blown right-rear tire were endured while he shared the car with Alex Presley. Hamlin summed up the night with a memorable comment about the sheer volume of contact he absorbed. “I hit everything but the lottery, that’s for sure.” He admitted the car knocked the radiator out and the tire gave out as he neared the finish line.
Hamlin genuinely anticipated Hocevar would force Dillon further to open a gap. Carson said a bit more aggression with the 10 was needed. Hamlin noted he never usually asks for that level of aggression. He thought the move was awesome even though it cost Hocevar the ability to get the position back immediately.
Cleetus and the Co-Driver Dynamic
Cleetus McFarland praised his co-driver for handling the heavy lifting on the track. Driving safely for 35 minutes was all that was needed, joked McFarland, who called Hocevar a “cheat code.” The win gives McFarland and Hocevar back-to-back victories in the 2.4 Hours of LeMullets. Ryan Preece also enjoyed the chaos, stating he had a hell of a time and that it was the most fun he has had in a long time.
The race results show a clear separation at the top with the winners taking home the trophy. Landon Huffman finished fourth, followed by Shaun What No Way in fifth place. The event proved that short-track racing in a Crown Victoria remains one of the most entertaining formats for fans.
