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Carson Hocevar confronts Zane Smith on track after contentious comments, recent drama

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp08/10/25
Carson Hocevar
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Tensions have continued to heat up between Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, with the pair trading barbs over the last week after some significant friction at Iowa. But have cooler heads prevailed?

After the race at Watkins Glen on Sunday, Hocevar approached Smith’s car and had a brief word, according to Zach Sturniolo of NASCAR.com. Hocevar then immediately headed to the garage, while Smith declined further comment.

Journalist Steven Taranto provided more insight into the conversation by tapping into Smith’s onboard. He relayed the quick comment from Hocevar.

“Hey, I know that doesn’t make up for it, but you can expect that in the next couple weeks, okay?” Hocevar said. Taranto noted that he’d have to dig further, but he believed Hocevar cut Smith a break late in the race.

Prior to the cooling of tensions on Sunday, Smith had thrown the latest volley in the back and forth, calling Hocevar a “dumb [expletive]” in an article on NASCAR.com. He added more, too.

“I was teammates with him, and everyone at that race shop, everyone in this garage, realizes he’s an idiot,” Smith said. That came after a week of back and forth.

The incident started when Carson Hocevar hit and spun Zane Smith on the track at Iowa. Less than 10 laps later, Smith appeared to attempt to retaliate, missing Hocevar’s back bumper on a swipe by mere inches.

Then, after the race, the crew chief for Smith, Ryan Bergenty, had it out with Hocevar. He interrupted a post-race interview to do so.

“Hey, when are you going to learn to f****** drive, dude?” Bergenty said, per journalist Stephen Stumpf. “I mean you wiped us the f*** out.”

Stumpf, who was conducting the interview with Carson Hocevar, would add more context, as well. He noted that Bergenty questioned Hocevar’s driving ability.

“Our car is fucking wrecked because you drive like a f****** r****d,” Bergenty said, per Stumpf. Carson Hocevar appeared completely unbothered.

The driver of the No. 77 car would post to Instagram with the song “IDGAF,” meaning “I don’t give a f***” with a picture of a ticket dispenser that read “Take a number.” The point? People taking issue with Hocevar can simply get in line to lodge their complaints.

At least one other NASCAR veteran didn’t approve of Hocevar’s handling of the situation. For Denny Hamlin, the wreck of Smith wasn’t necessarily some of Carson Hocevar’s most egregious contact.

“It was an accident,” Hamlin said. “He got loose.”

Where the veteran driver sees Carson Hocevar coming up a little short is his reaction after such incidents. A little bit more apologetic would be the way to go.

“Just say, ‘Hey, sorry about that, I f up. I got loose. I went in the corner. I shook the right rear out and I got into you. I apologize,’” Hamlin said. “Instead of saying, ‘Take a number.’”

Will Hocevar’s approach of Smith lead to a more civil back-and-forth going forward? We shall see.