Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon aimed a sly dig at Spire Motorsports' ever-controversial youngster Carson Hocevar on Sunday, following an eventful race for the No. 77 Chevrolet.

Having qualified 15th for the final Round of 8 race at Martinsville Speedway, Hocevar ultimately endured a miserable race in Virginia, as Hendricks' William Byron went on to take the checkered flag, and with it, secure his spot in the championship four.

Hocevar, who will be joined at Spire by Michael McDowell once again next season, while Daniel Suarez was recently unveiled as Justin Haley's replacement, traded paint with both of his rivals in Martinsville. The 22-year-old and Suarez, who currently competes for Trackhouse Racing, traded barbs for much of the race, resulting in Hocevar spinning twice and the No. 99 Chevrolet slamming the wall once.

The first notable incident saw Suarez tap the back of Hocevar, after which the 33-year-old told his team, "That wasn't intentional. I barely touched him. Hocevar's stance was somewhat less measured, saying simply, "F- him."

Later, Hovecar appeared to slam on his brakes down the front straightaway, causing Suarez to rear-end him once again, before bumping the No. 77's left rear around the first corner, sending him spinning again.

Then, with just 18 laps remaining, it was McDowell's turn to clash with Hocevar, again clipping the No. 77's rear left, prompting the 40-year-old to say, "I don't know what he did. He hit the brakes twice there. I wasn't even trying to get into him...I was not trying to do that."

Hocevar wound up finishing the race 31st with McDowell in 24th and Suarez in 22nd, while Haley came home in 19th.

After the race, Gordon was asked about the Spire on Spire caution, to which he jokingly replied, "You mean the third time the 77 was in an incident? I was thinking that, yes. More than three, I don't know. I lost count.

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"I'm just far enough removed. I can't imagine what he's going through, the crew chiefs. I know for those of us that have been in these meetings, we're all thinking, 'Wow, that Monday morning meeting is going to be a tough one over there at Spire because there was a lot of contact, not just with their current drivers, but one of their future drivers, too.' Yeah, I'll end it at that."

But Gordon wasn't the only member of the Hendrick family to poke fun at Hocevar, with Kyle Larson, who finished fifth and qualified for the championship four, joking how "the 77 was in, like, every caution tonight."

Controversy involving Hocevar is far from unusual; in fact, it's becoming something of a given in most races. While prodigiously talented, Hocevar's no-holds-barred style and lack of desire to form bonds with his rivals have often left him on the wrong side of his competitors.

This season, among numerous other clashes, Hocevar found himself being called a "moron" by Ryan Blaney, NASCAR's "biggest dumb-" by Austin Dillon, while both Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Zane Smith have threatened him. Elsewhere, an incident between him and Chase Elliott also ran the risk of getting him on the wrong side of Rick Hendrick - although Gordon's comments suggest the team is already well-aware of Hocevar's issues.