The Iowa Corn 350 took an intense turn Sunday as a collision and heated responses involving Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar became the focal point of the race action. The Carson Hocevar Iowa Corn 350 incident, which escalated midway through the competition, set off a series of emotional reactions both on and off the track.
Tensions Flare Following Mid-Race Collision
Action began building at Iowa when Hocevar made a move on Smith with 230 laps completed, bumping into him and causing Smith to spin. Zane Smith, visibly frustrated, responded with shouting over his team‘s radio, showing obvious anger toward his crew’s guidance during the chaotic moment.
Not long after, Smith appeared to attempt retribution. At the 238-lap mark, his car veered towards the back of Hocevar’s vehicle, just missing a direct hit. Cameras captured Smith darting towards Hocevar’s left rear, seeming to try a retaliatory hook, but ultimately not making contact. Journalists present noted the close call, with dash cam footage drawing attention from witnesses in the NASCAR community.
“I’m going to venture to guess that Zane Smith is not pleased with Carson Hocevar after their incident earlier. Smith definitely took a swipe there, but was unsuccessful (which probably, tbh, is better for him if he wants to run next week). #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/XcAZbSMb7m”
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley)
Confrontation in the Aftermath and Crew Involvement
The drama did not subside with the end of the race. During a post-race interview with Carson Hocevar, Ryan Bergenty, who manages Zane Smith’s pit crew, abruptly interrupted the conversation. Bergenty voiced his anger, first questioning Hocevar’s driving and then making his frustration explicit.
“Hey, when are you going to learn to f****** drive, dude?”
— Ryan Bergenty, Crew Chief
“I mean you wiped us the f*** out.”
— Ryan Bergenty, Crew Chief
Bergenty’s confrontational comments were captured on video, highlighting the ongoing tension between the two teams. Stephen Stumpf, present during the interview, observed that Bergenty was intensely concerned about Hocevar’s actions on the track.
“Our car is fucking wrecked because you drive like a f****** r****d,”
— Ryan Bergenty, Crew Chief
Smith Voices Anger Toward Racing Team
The fallout extended into Smith’s communications with his own team as he railed over the radio about the advice he received from the pit box. Clearly stressed by the events and his finish, Smith demanded a change in how he was being coached during the race.
“Gotta quit telling me how to f****** drive these things, dude,”
— Zane Smith, Driver
“Every time I poke middle we get f****** wrecked.”
— Zane Smith, Driver
Smith also criticized his crew members for failing to properly mark his pit box, underscoring the chaos and dissatisfaction surrounding his day at the Iowa Corn 350.
Tough Results and What Lies Ahead
The end results reflected the turbulent day for both drivers. Zane Smith managed only a second-to-last finish, placing P36, while Carson Hocevar secured a top-10 result in P8. For Smith, the incident with Hocevar and the post-race confrontations added to his disappointment and signaled lingering emotions going into future NASCAR events.
The Carson Hocevar Iowa Corn 350 incident not only influenced the race‘s outcome but also set the stage for ongoing tensions between drivers and teams, suggesting that repercussions could unfold at upcoming races as both competitors and crews process the aftermath of this heated encounter.
