It’s fair to say most NASCAR Cup Series drivers aren’t fans of Carson Hocevar, and while it’s because of his multiple run-ins, for Zane Smith, the reason is a bit different. 

NFL player Taylor Lewan, who hosts the podcast Bussin' With The Boys, has been getting into NASCAR recently and has invited NASCAR drivers every week on his podcast and asks them several questions. 

One of the most common questions is about his guests' thoughts on Carson Hocevar. That tradition continued on the latest episode as well when Riley Herbst and Zane Smith were on the podcast. 

Speaking about Hocevar on the Bussin' With The Boys podcast, Zane Smith, who had a run-in with Hocevar at Chicagoland, didn’t have many nice things to say but instead took a shot at Hocevar and his online presence. 

The 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford driver said, “If you’re going to be the guy hiding behind social media, I don’t know, that’s a coward in my opinion. Act like that way in person, like say that to my face… don’t be one way in person and then hide behind your phone.”

Smith was referring to how he found Hocevar to be sort of hypocritical in his approach in person as compared to his online persona. Smith spoke about how Hocevar behaved in person after they bust up in Iowa. 

The FRM driver said, “I remember he made a mistake or I don’t know if he made a mistake but wrecked us. And then, he spends the rest of the race like waving at me like playing nice guy of like ‘Oh man, I’m so sorry, so sorry,’ Then he goes on social media and posts like a, admit one like I don’t give a [expletive].”

While Smith opened up about the dual hats that Hocevar dons in person and online, he also gave a breakdown on how he handles a driver like that on track. 

Smith opens up on his approach to Hocevar

While Smith was speaking about Hocevar’s driving, it was ironically the FRM driver who bumped into Hocevar’s Spire 77 Chevrolet in Chicagoland and not the other way around. Most people commenting on it felt like Smith was looking for payback for Hocevar taking him out in Iowa last year. 

Unfortunately for Smith, he too ended up on the outside wall at Chicagoland while attempting to take Hocevar out, as he couldn’t escape the incident, almost sacrificing his race. 

On the same podcast, Smith said, “Honestly, my approach with Carson cause he’s fast. So me and him had a run-in together at Iowa, and we’ve raced hard and whatnot. And there’s a difference between certain guys who will race you hard.”

Smith added, “He’ll just put us both in a bad spot where it’s just costing us lap time. Like neither of us are benefiting from it.”

Smith says that he’d prefer to keep his relationship with Hocevar where it is, which is not interacting with him and just letting the cars do the talking. On the podcast, Smith also mentioned that his Cup Series friend circle is rather small. 

He said the closest to him are Riley Herbst and Noah Gragson, and that’s all he needs: two really good friends. 

While Smith let loose while talking about Hocevar, we are sure NASCAR fans can expect to see many more run-ins between the two drivers, given that Smith didn’t really get payback, ending up in a worse-off position himself.

Do you think Smith’s opinion on Hocevar is justified? Let us know your thoughts.

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Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason