CONCORD, N.C. -- NASCAR fined Zane Smith $50,000 for running into Carson Hocevar on the track after Sunday's Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
Smith ran into Hocevar after the 312-lap NASCAR Cup Series race finished. It happened as a result of contact on the track where Ross Chastain bumped into Hocevar, who then bumped into Smith in a chain reaction incident in turn three in the closing laps.
Smith was told after the contact that Chastain got into Hocevar to cause Hocevar to get into him. However, Smith said over the radio, "I don't give a (expletive)" in response.
Smith and Hocevar have had a tense rivalry this season. Smith spun him at Chicagoland Speedway, leading to an incident that derailed each driver's day at the 1.5-mile track in July.
After that, Smith called Hocevar a coward among other comments expressing his personal disdain for him.