Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Jokes Hocevar Might Need to Sell His Tank

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. didn't miss a beat when asked about Carson Hocevar's massive fine from NASCAR.

"He might have to sell the tank," Stenhouse said with a smirk.

The comment came after NASCAR announced a $100,000 penalty against Hocevar for a violation during the most recent race weekend.

Hocevar, a 22-year-old driver for Spire Motorsports, has become known in the garage for owning a military tank.

The vehicle is something of a trademark for the young driver, who often posts about it on social media.

But a six-figure fine changes the math for anyone, even a guy with an armored vehicle in his driveway.

Stenhouse's joke landed because it's grounded in a real detail of Hocevar's life.

Other drivers in the paddock have also weighed in on the penalty, though most have been more cautious with their words.

The fine stems from an incident that occurred during the race at Martinsville Speedway.

NASCAR officials determined that Hocevar had committed a safety violation under Section 4.4 of the NASCAR Rule Book.

The specific language in the penalty notice cited "actions detrimental to stock car racing" and "violation of the safety protocol."

Hocevar has not publicly commented on whether he plans to appeal the fine.

Under NASCAR's penalty structure, drivers have the right to appeal within a set window after the penalty is issued.

The appeals process typically involves a hearing before a three-member panel appointed by NASCAR.

If the appeal is denied, the full fine stands.

For a driver still in the early years of his Cup Series career, $100,000 is a significant sum.

Hocevar's base salary as a rookie driver is not publicly disclosed, but industry estimates place entry-level Cup Series earnings in the range of $200,000 to $500,000 annually before performance bonuses.

A $100,000 fine would represent a substantial portion of that income.

Stenhouse, a two-time Daytona 500 pole winner and a veteran of over 400 Cup Series starts, has been around long enough to know how these penalties hit.

His joke about the tank carries the weight of experience.

"I've seen guys get fines before," Stenhouse added.

"But when you own a tank, it's the first thing everybody thinks of."

The tank in question is a decommissioned military vehicle that Hocevar purchased and restored.

It's not street legal in most states, but Hocevar has driven it in parades and charity events.

The vehicle has become a recognizable part of his personal brand, appearing in merchandise and sponsor activations.

Now that brand is the punchline of the week in the NASCAR garage.

The fine itself has divided opinion among fans and fellow competitors.

Some argue that NASCAR's penalty was too harsh for the nature of the violation.

Others say the sanctioning body was right to send a message about safety standards.

NASCAR has not released the full details of what Hocevar did, citing the ongoing review process.

But the $100,000 figure places it among the larger fines issued in recent Cup Series history.

For comparison, a typical fine for a pit road speeding violation is $5,000 to $10,000.

A post-race inspection failure can run $25,000 to $50,000.

A $100,000 fine is reserved for more serious infractions involving safety or conduct.

Hocevar's crew chief and team owner have both declined to comment while the team reviews the penalty.

Spire Motorsports issued a brief statement saying they are "evaluating all options" regarding the fine.

The team has not yet filed an appeal as of this writing.

Hocevar himself has been quiet on social media since the penalty was announced.

His last post on X, formerly Twitter, was a photo of his race car from the previous weekend, with no mention of the fine.

Fans have filled the replies with tank emojis and jokes about selling the vehicle.

Stenhouse's comment has now become the defining sound bite of the week in NASCAR media.

It was captured during a routine media availability ahead of the next race on the schedule.

Reporters asked Stenhouse for his thoughts on the penalty, knowing his history of candid answers.

Stenhouse has never been one to filter his opinions, and this time was no different.

"I like Carson," Stenhouse said.

"He's a good kid. But you gotta learn. And sometimes learning costs you."