Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
Jul 5, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar (77) and driver Zane Smith (38) crash during the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
At just 23 years old, Carson Hocevar is already one of the most popular drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series.
On the flip side of that coin, however, Hocevar is also one of the most controversial drivers in the series, at least among his fellow competitors.
The Spire Motorsports star has become beloved for his aggressive driving style and and eccenctric behavior. But while fans love it, rivals like Front Row Motorsports driver Zane Smith don’t always feel the same way.
Zane Smith Makes It Clear How He Feels About Carson Hocevar In Vulgar Rant
After an incident during last season’s race at Iowa Speedway, Smith made it clear that he and Hocevar are far from the best of friends.
“I personally can’t go have a conversation with him without getting a $75,000 fine,” Smith told NASCAR.com. “Yeah, he’s just a dumb [expletive]. That’s just how it is,” he said.
Last week at Chicagoland Speedway, the two came together again, with Smith seemingly trying to wreck Hocevar, but taking himself out in the process.
Early race beef! Zane Smith tried to wreck the hell out of Hocevar! pic.twitter.com/lS7yjKquFQ
— Rubbin is Racing (@rubbinisracing) July 5, 2026
On Thursday, Smith appeared on Taylor Lewan and Will Compton’s “Racin’ With The Boys” show and let loose when asked how he’d describe Hocevar.
“Bum f—,” he said when asked for one word to describe his rival.
He then went on describe exactly why he can’t stand Hocevar
“You’ll have run-ins with certain guys, and you’ll have that throughout your career with certain people,” Smith said. “He’ll try to talk to you after saying, ‘Oh, I don’t talk to anybody out there.’ But he’s full of shit. He tries to be your buddy and then will go and screw you. Like, just don’t 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.”
Hocevar has made it clear in the past that he doesn’t care what his fellow drivers think of him. But we’ll see if he maintains that stance if they continue to make his life difficult on track.