Zane Smith’s Rage: The NASCAR Driver Who Almost Threw a Punch at Carson Hocevar!
In the high-octane world of NASCAR, tempers can flare and rivalries can ignite, but Zane Smith’s recent admission takes the cake! The talented driver revealed that he was ready to unleash a fist on fellow racer Carson Hocevar following a contentious incident during the Iowa race earlier this year. But why did he hold back? The answer lies in the unforgiving nature of NASCAR’s disciplinary measures.
During a candid chat on the popular Stacking Pennies podcast, Smith didn’t mince words when discussing his feelings towards Hocevar. “I didn’t talk to him, and it’s just you’re not going to get anything from it,” he expressed with palpable frustration. “I mean, yeah, you wanna go up to him and punch him in the face, but that’s $75,000, and that’s not very cool.”
That’s right—Smith’s potential moment of rage was tempered by the hefty price tag associated with such actions. Just last year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. faced a staggering $75,000 penalty for throwing a punch at Kyle Busch during a race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a move that also led to the suspension of two crew members. Smith is clearly not willing to jeopardize his career or his team’s future over a fleeting burst of anger.
As the current season unfolds, Smith finds himself in his sophomore year driving the No. 38 car for Front Row Motorsports. Although neither he nor Hocevar is set to make the playoffs, both are still in contention for a victory. With 29 races under his belt, Smith currently sits in 27th place in the drivers’ standings with 519 points, while Hocevar trails slightly behind in 24th with 577 points.
The tension between these two racers is palpable as they gear up for the upcoming Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, scheduled for Sunday, September 21. Fans can expect a thrilling 301-lap showdown, broadcast live on USA at 2 p.m. ET, with real-time updates available on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
But the drama doesn’t stop there! Hocevar himself has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Earlier this season, during a live-streaming session on Twitch, he faced backlash for using inappropriate language, referring to a location as a “sh**hole.” This slip-up resulted in a $50,000 fine from his own team, Spire Motorsports, who emphasized that his comments did not reflect their values or the standards of NASCAR.
In a statement addressing the situation, Spire Motorsports declared, “Carson Hocevar’s recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR.” The team also noted, “He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability.” As part of his penalty, Hocevar is required to undergo cultural sensitivity and bias-awareness training, a move that underscores the weight of words in the fast-paced world of NASCAR.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar. Will their rivalry heat up? Will Smith manage to keep his fists at bay? One thing is for sure: the NASCAR drama is far from over, and fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this heated rivalry!