TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Erik Jones, driver of the #43 Dollar Tree Toyota, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey VentraCool Air Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Saia Freight & Logistics Toyota, spins after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Xfinity Toyota, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey VentraCool Air Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, drives a damaged car after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: The #12 Wurth Ford, driven by Ryan Blaney is towed after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: The #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, driven by Joey Logano is towed after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, Josh Berry, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Menards/FrogTape Ford, Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Xfinity Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, Josh Berry, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Menards/FrogTape Ford, Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Xfinity Toyota, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, and Daniel Suarez, driver of the #7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, drive after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 King's Hawaiian UBE Coconut Rolls Toyota, William Byron, driver of the #24 Phorm Energy Chevrolet, and Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Long Beard XR Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Long Beard XR Chevrolet, Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey VentraCool Air Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Chef Boyardee Chevrolet, Cody Ware, driver of the #51 Super.com Chevrolet, and Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)1 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Erik Jones, driver of the #43 Dollar Tree Toyota, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey VentraCool Air Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)1 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Erik Jones, driver of the #43 Dollar Tree Toyota, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey VentraCool Air Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)2 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)3 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)4 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Saia Freight & Logistics Toyota, spins after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)5 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Xfinity Toyota, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey VentraCool Air Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)6 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, drives a damaged car after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)7 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: The #12 Wurth Ford, driven by Ryan Blaney is towed after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)8 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: The #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, driven by Joey Logano is towed after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)9 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, Josh Berry, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Menards/FrogTape Ford, Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Xfinity Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)10 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, Josh Berry, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Menards/FrogTape Ford, Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Xfinity Toyota, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)11 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, and Daniel Suarez, driver of the #7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, drive after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)12 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)13 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 King's Hawaiian UBE Coconut Rolls Toyota, William Byron, driver of the #24 Phorm Energy Chevrolet, and Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Long Beard XR Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)14 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Long Beard XR Chevrolet, Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey VentraCool Air Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Chef Boyardee Chevrolet, Cody Ware, driver of the #51 Super.com Chevrolet, and Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Red Bull Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)15 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)16 / 16NASCAR race at Talladega: Cup Series drivers compete in Jack Link's 500TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)How many remakes of “A Star is Born” can we take?
Ready or not, we just got a fifth version of that often-flogged Hollywood horse.
And this time the Boys in Rewrite made a major overhaul. Instead of Janet Gaynor or Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand or Lady Gaga, the newly christened star is a lanky lad from outside Kalamazoo.
No one was going to be surprised if Carson Hocevar, upon finally bagging that first Cup Series win, put his own signature on the victory celebration. And yes, we were overdue for something beyond beaten-to-death burnouts and donuts.
Every now and then, a racer has one of these moments where even the clerks in Purchasing are chattering about it Monday morning. Carson Hocevar’s side-saddle victory cruise was just that.
Carson Hocevar celebration, so cool to see this in person the one time it's ever gonna be allowed lol pic.twitter.com/1OrjluekpX
And thank the Lord, because before that, all we really had was the Big One to beat all Big Ones, which is saying something for a place where the Big One was birthed — Talladega, which can also now claim delivery of Carson Hocevar as not just a NASCAR star but also a winner.
Hocevar’s path to victory was cleared a bit by the aforementioned Big One. This one claimed some immediate DNFs among the 26 cars involved. Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace and William Byron were among the quality plate-racers whose days were ruined, while others got enough damage to render them incapable of seriously contending.
HUGE CRASH at Talladega.Calling it the Big One doesn’t do it justice. pic.twitter.com/QBhk9ewDXH
Ty Gibbs expanded the list when he wrecked shortly after the restart.
That helps explain why the top-10 running order in the closing laps included some strangers. Jeez, even Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch got up there and reminded us they were still here. Howdy, fellas, try to make yourselves at home.
All of the in’s and out’s of how Hocevar arrived first at the checkers are secondary to the celebration he eventually pulled off afterward. “Eventually” because it took him a minute to fully figure out how to drive his Chevy while sitting on the “window sill” with his upper body hanging out there for all to see.
Hocevar’s bubblegum card lists him at 6-foot-4, and if that’s a stretch, it’s only a tad of one — he’s up there, and for a modern racer, he’s basically Manute Bol. That allowed him to stretch one of those long legs far enough to work the gas and, also importantly, the brake.
And yes, after he nudged it to a stop, head-on against the outside wall in front of the cheering crowd, he did indeed depress the gas one more time to melt some Goodyears and throw some smoke. The post-race burnout must be written into the rules at this point.
Some were reminded of the time Dale Earnhardt did something similar 40 years earlier at Richmond, though his "hand out" was more out of necessity — his windshield needed a wipe.
You may be cool, but you'll never be Dale Earnhardt hanging out the window cleaning his windshield at Richmond cool. pic.twitter.com/H8UtMouxlO
And here’s the best news. There’s a lot of monkey-see/monkey-do in auto racing (and all over, frankly). From climbing the fence to the Polish victory lap to the endless line of donuts and burnouts, no quality victory celebration goes without imitators.
This one, however, will surely remain unique to Hocevar. With the possible exception of Michael McDowell, he’s the only guy with the stilts to do it.
Anything that gets NASCAR injected positively into the consciousness of the non-race fans is obviously welcomed by NASCAR. But are we teetering a little too far toward show-biz right now?
You have to wonder about that in the aftermath of the Talladega weekend, which included a Saturday ARCA race, which included two racers with fictional names: Cleetus McFarland and Squirrel McNutt.