NASCAR FINES ZANE SMITH $50,000 OVER PHOENIX CONTACT

NASCAR fined Zane Smith $50,000 after he struck the rear of Carson Hocevar’s car on the cooldown lap following the Motorway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway. NASCAR vice-president of racing communications Mike Forde said officials had previously warned both drivers about their dispute. Forde said that warning was the main reason for the penalty. Smith finished 15th in the race, while Hocevar finished 12th. NASCAR reviewed video, audio and data before issuing the fine.

Contact between Smith and Hocevar at Chicagoland Speedway in July triggered a crash. NASCAR called both drivers to a meeting in Atlanta after that race. Forde described the warning officials gave them: “If you guys can’t figure it out, we will help you figure it out.” Smith had previously criticised Hocevar publicly. Forde said NASCAR rarely discusses private meetings with drivers but chose to disclose part of this one.

During the closing stages at Phoenix, Ross Chastain hit Hocevar, setting off contact that also involved Smith and Josh Berry. Smith’s team told him over the radio that Chastain had pushed Hocevar into Smith’s No. 38 Ford. Forde said NASCAR withheld some details of its review because Smith has the right to appeal. NASCAR did not penalise Michael McDowell or Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after McDowell spun Stenhouse on a cooldown lap at Charlotte the previous week. Forde said the two drivers settled that dispute on pit road.