Carson Hocevar’s rival has a clear message ahead of the 2026 NASCAR season: “Treat him how he’d treat me”

On the latest episode of the Stacking Pennies podcast, Corey LaJoie talked about Cup Series drivers Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith's rivalry. The duo had a run-in at the Iowa Speedway race held in August 2025, where Hocevar sent Smith into the wall, leading to a heated moment.

Smith pointed out that Hocevar pulled a dirty move on him, and there was no resolution afterwards. The former Spire Motorsports driver also highlighted that a physical confrontation with the #77 Chevy Camaro ZL1 driver could have led to a $75,000 fine, so he held back. Hocevar recovered from the collision and finished the race in P8, while Smith ended the event in 31st place.

Reflecting on the incident, Zane Smith had a clear message for Carson Hocevar ahead of the 2026 Cup Series season. During the podcast, Smith told Corey LaJoie (via NASCAR):

"No, I didn't talk to him. And it's just, you're not gonna get anything from it. Like, I don't really know how else you can explain that. I mean, yeah, you want to go up to him and punch him in the face, but that's 75 grand, and that's not very cool, and I really don't think that would do anything."

"Yeah. So ultimately, what it's came down to me is like, I just, I treat him as if, how he would treat me. And it's just how it goes until that changes, I'm not gonna change," Smith concluded.

Carson Hocevar wrapped the 2025 Cup Series season in 23rd place with 702 points. He secured nine top tens, two top fives, and one pole position in 36 starts. Meanwhile, Zane Smith came in P28 with 615 points and five top tens this season.

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“They judge off of actions in visibility, not intent”: When Carson Hocevar got candid about his $50,000 fine

In October 2025, NASCAR fined Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar a $50,000 fine after the Kansas Speedway race. Later, Hocevar was featured in an interview with Bob Pockrass, expressing his emotions on the situation ahead of the Charlotte ROVAL race.

The governing body claimed that the #77 Chevy driver spun his tires and tried to rejoin the race while safety personnel attended to his car. Additionally, the sanctioning body stated that Hocevar violated Sections 4.4B and D of the rule book, resulting in a $50,000 fine.

Following that, Carson Hocevar explained that he was trying to put his car in neutral and not attempting to rejoin the race. He added:

"Obviously, like, there is a tow truck in front of me not going anywhere; it was trying to go places earlier. You know, the tires are off the ground, and they just spin. But they judge off of actions in visibility not intent, right? So, like, I had tires spun black and white. Yeah, next time I might have them rock the car to throw me in neutral. That's on me."

Carson Hocevar clinched a top ten spot in the qualifying session and secured a sixth-place start for the 273-lap race at Kansas Speedway. The wreck occurred while he was running 13th and cost him valuable time, leading to a 29th-place finish. Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott earned his second victory of the season.