Jimmie Johnson Is Watching NASCAR’s Carson Hocevar Controversy With Popcorn

Jimmie Johnson sees Carson Hocevar from two sides. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club . He says Hocevar has had a hand in wrecking eight or 10 of his team's cars this year.

Johnson talked about Hocevar on this week's episode of Door Bumper Clear .

Johnson won five straight Cup titles from 2006 to 2010 with Hendrick Motorsports . The hosts asked whether Hocevar would have lasted in the era when Johnson was winning titles.

"It's tough," Johnson said. "I think it's unfair to place people in different generations."

He then turned to what the Spire Motorsports driver has cost his own team.

"You know that I think we counted up like eight or ten of our cars that he's torn up this year directly or indirectly. So don't like that piece of it," Johnson said.

Legacy fields Toyotas in the Cup Series, while Hocevar drives the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire. Johnson said his view changes when he thinks about the sport as a whole.

"But you know, I wear a different hat now and look at the sport, and eyeballs, and I can't tell how many times I've been in places where I don't expect to hear the NASCAR conversation and I hear Carson's name," Johnson said.

He said drivers from earlier generations would have handled the situation themselves.

"It's up to the guys on track to manage it. I mean, our sport is self-regulating, and if we do look at previous generations, guys wouldn't put up with that crap," Johnson said.

Johnson said other drivers have let it build, but he is enjoying the show.

"I mean they wouldn't, and a lot of guys have allowed this to happen and have allowed these situations, and allowed them to continue to develop," Johnson said. "So, you know, I'm eating the popcorn and watching. I'm watching because it's entertaining."

The episode was released the day after another eventful race for Hocevar. At Phoenix, Zane Smith hit Hocevar on the cooldown lap after Hocevar was pushed into him late in the race. MotorBiscuit covered Smith's post-race comments about Hocevar .

Hocevar and Ryan Blaney also fought on pit road after the Bristol race in September. Brad Keselowski has accused Hocevar of causing "intentional accidents" .

Hocevar started 28th at Phoenix and finished 12th.

He won his first Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in April. The Cup Series returns there on Sunday.