# NASCAR fines Zane Smith $50,000 for Phoenix retaliation

> NASCAR penalizes Zane Smith after he retaliated against Carson Hocevar at Phoenix race.
- Title: NASCAR fines Zane Smith $50,000 for Phoenix retaliation
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: zane smith, carson hocevar, nascar, cup series, phoenix race, fine, retaliation, spire motorsports, sports, fines, Zane, Smith
- Source: EssentiallySports — https://essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nascar-hits-zane-smith-with-fifty-thousand-fine-months-after-unpenalized-atlanta-sit-down
- Author: Dipti Sood
- Published: 2026-10-21T03:42:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: zane smith, carson hocevar, nascar, cup series, phoenix race, fine, retaliation, spire motorsports, sports
## 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
## Key takeaway

NASCAR fined Zane Smith $50,000 for hitting Carson Hocevar after a chain reaction incident at Phoenix.