​NASCAR brought four drivers to the hauler this week ahead of Sunday’s race at EchoPark Speedway in an effort to head off further on-track incidents spurred by retaliation and heated rivalries. But it appears the sit-downs fell flat for at least two of the parties involved, particularly when it comes to Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar.
After a meeting with reporters following the informal discussion with NASCAR officials and Hocevar, Smith did not mince words about his feelings toward the young driver. He made it clear that his animosity toward Hocevar runs deeper than what happens on the track and extends to Hocevar himself. “I just don’t like him as a human… I think we both understand where we’re at with everything; certainly, the meeting doesn’t change how much he dislikes me and how much I dislike him… I don’t like him.”
Smith, 27, has made his strong dislike for his peer known wherever possible. The driver of the No. 38 car for Front Row Motorsports reinforced his stance this past Sunday at Chicagoland, deliberately colliding with Hocevar’s vehicle and wrecking himself in the process. He has repeated his ill will toward Hocevar in multiple interviews since.
In a recent episode of Racin’ with the Boys, Smith and Riley Herbst were shown photographs of various Cup Series drivers and asked for their opinions. When Hocevar’s image appeared, Smith referred to him with an expletive, and even took a jab at his fan base, drawing a parallel to a South Park character known for typing fiercely on a keyboard. “He’ll try to talk to you after saying ‘I don’t talk to anybody out there’ — he’s full of s***. He tries to be your buddy, and then will go and screw you. And so it’s like, don’t even talk to me in the first place, because one, I don’t like you, and we’re gonna eventually have a run-in together, so let’s just not talk in the first place.”
Smith, who has repeatedly made his disdain for Hocevar public, has had several on-track clashes with the younger driver in the past. However, the genesis of the most recent aggressive move—an apparent attempt to wreck Hocevar’s No. 77 car—remains unclear, and observers question whether there is any legitimate animosity beyond the obvious personal feud. What is evident is that the rivalry has been disproportionately one-sided, with Smith driving the storyline more than Hocevar in recent exchanges.
Following the weekend hauler meeting with NASCAR officials, Hocevar downplayed the intensity of the feud, suggesting the conflict feels asymmetric at best. “I was just racing I don’t know, do you guys know if there’s something more to it?…We’ll have to go to couples counseling…I don’t know, it seems very one-sided here.” He indicated that, at least publicly, he is treating the situation as a straightforward racing dispute rather than a personal vendetta, and he suggested that any escalation might be out of his control or out of proportion to the on-track incidents.
Given the formal sit-downs, it seems unlikely Hocevar will seek retaliation, especially with the potential penalties looming should a repeat confrontation occur after such a meeting. In contrast, Smith’s public expressions of dislike are likely to endure, reinforcing a narrative that his antagonism toward Hocevar remains intact regardless of NASCAR’s attempts to quell tensions. The dynamic between the two young drivers continues to be a focal point for fans and media alike, with each new public remark adding fuel to an ongoing storyline that has captivated (and frustrated) observers across the sport.
As the season progresses, whether this feud evolves into a broader, league-wide issue or cools off remains to be seen. For now, Hocevar’s stance suggests a wary approach—racing hard but not escalating into retribution—while Smith’s adamant, repeated declarations of disliking Hocevar ensure that the rivalry stays in the public eye, potentially shaping decisions, penalties, and race-day behavior in the events to come.