From EssentiallySports · Dipti Sood · · 1m
NASCAR fines Zane Smith $50,000 for Phoenix retaliation
NASCAR penalizes Zane Smith after he retaliated against Carson Hocevar at Phoenix race.
In brief
NASCAR penalizes Zane Smith after he retaliated against Carson Hocevar at Phoenix race. NASCAR fined Zane Smith $50,000 for hitting Carson Hocevar after a chain reaction incident at Phoenix. Originally reported by EssentiallySports.
Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar feud
Zane Smith has openly disliked Carson Hocevar as a person for months.
“It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to claim that Zane Smith is the only driver in the Cup Series garage who genuinely dislikes Carson Hocevar as a person”
Smith retaliates at Phoenix
Smith hit Hocevar after a chain reaction incident at Phoenix with 15 laps remaining.
“With 15 laps to go, Ross Chastain hit Hocevar entering Turn 3, sending the No. 77 up the track and into Josh Berry and Smith”
NASCAR fines Smith $50,000
NASCAR fined Zane Smith $50,000 for retaliation after Phoenix incident.
“NASCAR has fined the Front Row Motorsports driver $50,000”
Previous conflict at Iowa
Hocevar and Smith clashed at Iowa last year after aggressive contact sent Smith into wall.
“In Iowa last year, Hocevar made aggressive contact with Smith’s car, sending him into the wall”
Hocevar's Instagram response
Hocevar posted Drake’s 'IDGAF' song clip after Iowa incident.
“He posted a clip of Drake’s song 'IDGAF' on Instagram”
Atlanta meeting
NASCAR warned Smith and Hocevar to resolve differences after Atlanta incident.
“NASCAR officials told the two drivers to sort out their differences or face intervention”
Smith's retaliation at Phoenix
Smith hit Hocevar after race finish despite Chastain triggering incident.
“Smith blamed Hocevar for the contact. His team tried to explain that Chastain had shoved the Spire Motorsports driver into the No. 38”
NASCAR's stance on retaliation
NASCAR penalizes on-track retaliation but allows post-race disputes.
“NASCAR draws the line at on-track retaliation, and after Sunday’s incident at Phoenix, officials decided to penalize Smith”
The bottom line
NASCAR fined Zane Smith $50,000 for hitting Carson Hocevar after a chain reaction incident at Phoenix.
