Kyle Petty Defends Next Gen | Spire Makes Another Driver Change | Hocevar Clashes With McDowell

Kyle Petty’s Next Gen comments have lit a fire in the NASCAR world, Carson Hocevar’s clash with Michael McDowell stirred up garage drama, and Spire Motorsports once again found itself in the middle of a mid-season shake-up. Add in a big Truck Series seat swap, Petty’s social media follow-up, and a fresh set of Cup Series power rankings, and this week’s NASCAR storylines are loaded.

• Was Carson Hocevar justified in his post-race frustration after getting hit twice by his veteran teammate?
• What’s behind Spire Motorsports cutting a truck and letting Andres Perez de Lara go despite recent signs of improvement?
• Did Kyle Petty miss the point in defending the Next Gen car, or is he right that fans need patience?
• Which drivers rose or fell in the latest Cup Series power rankings after Watkins Glen?

The mix of heated radio chatter, sudden driver moves, and a high-profile debate over NASCAR’s premier car makes for one of the busier news cycles we’ve had lately. Some of these changes could ripple into the playoffs, others could shape how teams approach 2025, and the Petty vs. critics discussion is bound to keep fans divided. One thing’s certain: the conversation won’t cool off before Richmond under the lights this weekend.

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