From Racing America On SI · · 4m
NASCAR Fine for Zane Smith
NASCAR fines Zane Smith $50,000 for rear-end collision with Carson Hocevar at Phoenix Raceway.
In brief
NASCAR fines Zane Smith $50,000 for rear-end collision with Carson Hocevar at Phoenix Raceway. NASCAR penalized Zane Smith $50,000 for ramming into Carson Hocevar's car on cooldown lap at Phoenix Raceway. Originally reported by Racing America On SI.
Quick answers
- Why no penalty?
- Why not? I guess the boys are allowed to have at it?
- What is the key takeaway from NASCAR Fine for Zane Smith?
- NASCAR penalized Zane Smith $50,000 for ramming into Carson Hocevar's car on cooldown lap at Phoenix Raceway.
NASCAR fines Zane Smith
NASCAR issued a $50,000 fine to Zane Smith for ramming into Carson Hocevar's No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet on the cooldown lap at the conclusion of last Sunday's Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
The question for drivers
To have at it, or to not have at it? That is the question for the boys. And to be honest, I'm not sure if I can answer that.
NASCAR's warning to drivers
According to the Hauler Talk Podcast, Smith was heavily fined for his post-race contact with Hocevar because NASCAR sat both Smith and Hocevar down after an incident between the two drivers at Chicagoland Speedway.
The $50,000 fine
That seems to be what the $50,000 fine ultimately was. NASCAR figuring this out for Smith and Hocevar.
Rivalry timeline
Chicagoland Speedway was 15 races ago. That's nearly half a season since the last run-in between Hocevar and Smith.
Post-race pissing match
But the timing of the penalty is optically horrible for NASCAR, as the penalty comes a week after Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. were involved in a post-race pissing match at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
No penalty for pissing match
Neither McDowell or Stenhouse were fined for their actions.
Gray area for drivers
So, now we have an amazingly gray area when it comes to confrontations between drivers on track.Is it okay?Or is it not?Well, it would seem if it's a new feud, it's okay.
Phoenix race incident
However, we saw another instance of an old rivalry renewed during Sunday's race at Phoenix, and nothing was done to either driver involved in that situation.
Riley Herbst concussion
Back at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Riley Herbst was crashed out of the race by Michael McDowell, an impact that caused Herbst to incur a concussion, which would result in the 23XI Racing driver being…
Phoenix crash sequence
Fast forward to the early laps of Sunday's race at Phoenix, and McDowell made slight contact with Herbst.
Why no penalty?
Why not? I guess the boys are allowed to have at it?
Why Smith was penalized
But if so, why was Smith penalized for bumping into Hocevar on a cooldown lap?
Post-race speed
I have tried so hard to make it make sense in my own head, and I guess I could somewhat accept that NASCAR chose to penalize Smith for ramming Hocevar at roughly 120 mph in…
No public reason
But at this point, NASCAR hasn't indicated that as a reason for the penalty. At least, not publicly.
NASCAR's reversal
And for those who are going to go back to the argument of the sanctioning body warning Smith and Hocevar after Chicagoland Speedway to cut it out, I want to remind you that it was…
Prior to Chicagoland
Prior to Chicagoland Speedway, drivers were penalized for intentionally crashing others on track.
Ryan Preece penalty
Ryan Preece was docked points and fined for "not cutting a break" to Ty Gibbs at Texas Motor Speedway in May.That penalty nearly kept Preece from making the Chase.
Herbst no penalty
However, Herbst in a similar situation in Sunday's race at Phoenix, received no such penalty.
Post-race shenanigans
Ditto with the post-race actions from McDowell and Stenhouse last week at Charlotte. So, it almost seems like Smith and Hocevar were placed on some sort of secret probation during their meeting with NASCAR officials…
The one thing
NASCAR penalized Zane Smith $50,000 for ramming into Carson Hocevar's car on cooldown lap at Phoenix Raceway.
