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Perhaps the highest compliment you could pay a NASCAR driver is comparing them to legendary seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt.
Earnhardt wasn’t just immensely successful on track; he also served as the face of the sport for several years, much like Michael Jordan in the NBA.
It becomes an even bigger compliment when that comparison comes from fellow legend and seven-time champion Richard Petty, who is also considered a member of NASCAR’s Mount Rushmore.
So, which young driver had the honor of being compared to Earnhardt by Petty? None other than Carson Hocevar, the 23-year-old who has become the Cup Series’ most polarizing figure.
Richard Petty Says Carson Hocevar Reminds Him Of A Young Dale Earnhardt
Petty spoke about Hocevar on this week’s episode of his Petty Family Racing podcast.
During the podcast, he discussed the controversial move Hocevar made in an attempt to pass Christopher Bell for the lead late in Sunday’s race at Atlanta.
Bell’s teammate, Denny Hamlin, called it an “idiot move.” But Petty didn’t see things the same way.
“That boy in that 77 [Hocevar], he has him a time. Right now, a lot of the things he’s getting by with, or doing, is not really that wrong,” Petty said. “If I go back and watch him run and stuff, he reminds me of Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt learned to get by with that stuff, and that boy in the 77, he’s just going to have to learn to get by with the things he’s doing … Earnhardt never made no friends either.”
That is the highest of high praise, from perhaps the sport’s wisest mouthpiece when it comes to history and perspective. You have to imagine Petty’s comparison will only encourage Hocevar to continue to race the way he has through three seasons in the Cup Series.
And given his impressive results in cars that most wouldn’t expect to compete for victories, it’s hard to say he should change anything.
But Petty is certainly right about one thing, Hocevar isn’t making friends out on the track.