NASCAR Ford Driver Gets Clocked By Chevy Rival After Wreck: Video

Ryan Blaney dominated the early action at Bristol on Saturday night, piloting his No. 12 NASCAR Ford Mustang Dark Horse to the front and leading 202 laps. However, his night ended in the Turn 1 fence after contact with the Chevy rival Carson Hocevar, relegating Blaney to a 33rd-place finish. The clash happened on Lap 457 as the two battled for second place.

Blaney went high to complete a pass, then dropped back down to block Hocevar’s Chevy. Hocevar did not lift, the cars made contact, and Blaney was sent into the fence while Hocevar escaped without damage, ultimately finishing third. Frustrated by the incident, Blaney confronted Hocevar on Pit Road after the checkered flag dropped. After Blaney put a hand on his rival’s chest, Hocevar responded by landing a couple of punches to Blaney’s cheek that knocked him back.

Crew members swarmed the scene as Blaney fired back, punching Hocevar in the face and bodying him into the side of his race car. Blaney stated after the race that he left plenty of room and felt Hocevar simply decided not to lift and wrecked him. Hocevar offered a different perspective, claiming he went left when Blaney got a run, that Blaney spun himself, and that he was not going to take it when Blaney came after him to instigate a fight. Both drivers are eligible for the 2026 Cup Series Chase for the championship.

At the time of writing, no penalties have been announced for either driver. Meanwhile, Blaney’s teammate and fellow NASCAR Ford driver Joey Logano won the race.