​HAMPTON, Ga. — A closed-door meeting in the NASCAR hauler on Saturday, June 11, did little to settle the ongoing tensions between Cup Series drivers Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar. With the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway approaching just south of Atlanta, both men met with NASCAR officials after an incident at Chicagoland Speedway last weekend in which Smith appeared to wreck Hocevar intentionally. Smith later appeared on the popular podcast Bussin’ With the Boys, where he referred to Hocevar as a “bum” and a “coward.”
When Smith spoke to reporters after qualifying on Saturday, only hours after the meeting, his stance remained unchanged. “I just don’t like him as a human,” Smith said. “I think we both understand where we’re at with everything, but yeah, certainly the meeting doesn’t change how much he dislikes me and how much I dislike him.” Hocevar, by contrast, conveyed a much lighter mood when recounting the exchange, flashing a smile and answering questions with a laid-back demeanor. “It was funny. I don’t know. I didn’t even understand the big deal — we’re just racing,” Hocevar said. “I’ve never gotten called to the hauler after getting wrecked. I don’t know. It’s funny. It just seemed like a racing deal. We’ll have to go to couples counseling, I’m sure, at some point.”
Hocevar, 23, has become a polarizing figure in the NASCAR garage for his aggressive, at times reckless, racing style. That approach has yielded notable results, including a win at Talladega earlier this season, and has drawn comparisons from racing legend Richard Petty to Dale Earnhardt. Yet his reputation has not earned him many friends in the Cup Series. After causing Hocevar to spin during a victory for the Truck Series championship at Naval Base Coronado in 2023, Corey Heim said he would always hold a “grudge” against Hocevar for that incident. Hocevar’s actions have also drawn attention when he triggered a multi-car crash at Michigan, an episode that even drew a reaction from Bubba Wallace.
Asked by USA TODAY Sports if a recent conversation with Wallace had left an impression on him, Hocevar offered little in the way of a reaction. Wallace shrugged and responded, “Maybe. I don’t know if he’s done any bonehead moves lately. It hasn’t cost me any spots. I’ve seen him and Zane Smith get into it last week. What’s weird is, it’s when he’s having really good days… If you can understand, when you’re running really good, don’t mess it up, like, you’re going to get a good finish.”
As NASCAR moves forward, the clash between Hocevar and Smith remains a focal point, underscoring how a single incident can echo through an entire season, affecting relationships and decisions both on and off the track.