Carson Hocevar bumped Ty Dillon out of the lead on the final lap and helped Cleetus McFarland secure a repeat victory at the 2.4 Hours of LeMullets on Friday at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton, Florida.
- Hocevar and McFarland’s victory margin over Dillon settled at 0.994 seconds after a chaotic finish on the short oval.
- Denny Hamlin finished in third place, trailing the winner by 1.416 seconds despite heavy mechanical attrition.
- Ryan Preece recovered from an early crash to climb back into contention before a late spin relegated him to sixth place.
The 3/8-mile oval featured a temporary chicane on the backstretch, forcing drivers into heavy braking zones and tight traffic. As the field approached the white flag, Richard Childress Racing driver Ty Dillon held the lead in the No. 10 Crown Victoria.
Carson Hocevar closed the gap, delivered a rear-bumper strike, and pushed Dillon out of the racing line. Dillon attempted a counterattack in Turn 1, bumping Hocevar right back.
Hit everything but the lottery pic.twitter.com/RgECnkhmvE
That retaliation forced Dillon wide into the backstretch chicane as he tried to shed speed. He nearly collected a tractor tire before gathering the car, allowing Hocevar to slide past and reclaim the top spot.
“Yeah, I’m glad it was the front bumper. The back bumper was pretty expensive last time I used that,” Carson Hocevar said after the race, referencing his recent NASCAR Cup Series penalty.
Kickin’ the Tires reported that Hocevar also noted how relaxed the atmosphere felt compared to a points-paying national series weekend. “That was a lot of fun. I ran into a lot of guys I have all season but they’re laughing about it now,” Hocevar told Kickin’ the Tires.”
Denny Hamlin drove the endurance event alongside co-driver Alex Presley in a heavily battered machine. The car suffered radiator damage and a failing right-rear tire in the closing laps.
oh MY what a finish. cleetus mcfarland and carson hocevar go BACK TO BACK at the 2.4 hours of lemullets pic.twitter.com/B572xcpqXw
“I hit everything but the lottery, that’s for sure,” Denny Hamlin said, according to RacingNews.co.
Hamlin admitted he wanted even more aggression from the leading cars. “I really needed Carson to get just a little more aggressive with the No. 10. I never usually ask for that,” Hamlin said, as noted by RacingNews.co.
Ryan Preece experienced an equally eventful evening after destroying his primary car in an early-race incident. He climbed through the field in a backup Crown Vic before spinning into the infield tires on the backstretch.
“I had a hell of a time. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” Ryan Preece said, according to RacingNews.co.
pic.twitter.com/cHGxtZul2K
| Finish Position | Driver | Gap / Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson Hocevar / Cleetus McFarland | Winner |
| 2 | Ty Dillon | -0.994 |
| 3 | Denny Hamlin / Alex Presley | -1.416 |
| 4 | Landon Huffman | -2.428 |
| 6 | Ryan Preece | -3.636 |
The event combined professional stock car racers, internet personalities, and entertainment figures in nitrous-equipped Crown Victorias. McFarland praised his co-driver’s performance as a competitive advantage while celebrating back-to-back victories in the crossover endurance showcase.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
