Hauler Talk: NASCAR explains why Zane Smith was penalized for ramming Hocevar after Phoenix
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For the second consecutive week, a NASCAR Cup Series race was followed by contact between drivers on the cool-down lap.
But after declining to penalize Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for a post-race incident on Oct. 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR issued a $50,000 fine to Zane Smith for ramming Carson Hocevar after the checkered flag Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
RELATED: Phoenix results | See it happen in real time
On the latest episode of the "Hauler Talk" podcast, NASCAR vice president of racing communications Mike Forde said the difference was Smith and Hocevar had already been warned for a run-in at Chicagoland Speedway.
"After they had their dust-up on the race track, we called both of them in at Atlanta," Forde said. "And we don't typically like talking about what we tell those drivers in the hauler. But in this case, pretty much the message was this: If you guys can't figure it out, we will help you figure it out. And they couldn't figure it out. So this is us pretty much helping. Zane Smith figured it out a little bit in the form of a $50,000 fine.
"When we have drivers called into the hauler like that, we don't have it often, but when we feel like it's necessary, we're serious about those conversations."
NASCAR had a "lengthy discussion" before deciding there would be no penalties for McDowell and Stenhouse. Their altercation was quickly defused in the pits after that and was viewed as in the heat of the moment.
Forde said NASCAR wants its drivers to be aggressive and passionate,"but (the Smith fine) was a little bit different than that, largely because of the conversation we had and the ask that we had that we felt was largely ignored."
Because Smith has a few days to appeal the fine, Forde declined to comment on further details.
The penalty matches the $50,000 fine that Bubba Wallace was levied for hitting Alex Bowman's No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on the cool-down lap after the 2024 Chicago Street Race. Bowman had already lowered his window net, and his car hit a concrete barrier from the bump by Wallace.
Other topics covered by Forde and senior director of racing communications Amanda Ellis during the 74th episode of "Hauler Talk," which explores competition issues in NASCAR:
-- How many teams elected to change brake pads and rotors after practice and qualifying at Phoenix.
-- Why the final caution at Phoenix was extended because of a restart order mix-up.
-- How Toyota clinched the manufacturer championship with three races remaining.
-- The new aerodynamic rules package for Talladega this weekend.