Carson Hocevar seems intent on driving as aggressive as ever. After all, he was the runner-up in Atlanta for a career-best finish. It also prompted a week of criticism from some veteran drivers, and warnings not to make things harder on himself by making enemies on the track.

I'm planning to race no differently,” Hocevar said Saturday before he qualified fourth to put him near the front again. He dismissed criticism that comes from outside his team and its suppliers as “noise.