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Blaney and Hocevar Crash Sparks Pit-Road Fight

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 2:30 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Blaney Punches Hocevar

Ryan Blaney (NASCAR driver) collided with Carson Hocevar (NASCAR driver) at Bristol Motor Speedway with 43 laps remaining.
Ryan Blaney spun into the outside wall and finished 33rd after leading 202 laps.
Carson Hocevar finished third behind winner Joey Logano and runner-up Kyle Larson.
After the crash, Ryan Blaney grabbed Carson Hocevar’s fire suit, prompting a punch exchange on pit road.

Summary

Judge Limits Gabehart

Federal judge ruled Chris Gabehart may work for Spire Motorsports but not as competition director.
Joe Gibbs Racing filed a motion claiming Spire violated a temporary restraining order and should be held in contempt.
Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson said JGR cannot control other teams and asserted Spire did nothing wrong after months of discovery.

History

Historical Context

Earnhardt’s fatal crash on Feb 18 2001 at Daytona spurred NASCAR to overhaul safety, mandating the HANS device on Oct 17 2001 after 41 of 43 drivers were already using it at the Michigan Pepsi 400, and installing SAFER barriers and the Car of Tomorrow. Today’s on-track clash between Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar revives those safety-governance tensions.

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Blaney Punches Hocevar

Ryan Blaney (NASCAR driver) collided with Carson Hocevar (NASCAR driver) at Bristol Motor Speedway with 43 laps remaining.
Ryan Blaney spun into the outside wall and finished 33rd after leading 202 laps.
Carson Hocevar finished third behind winner Joey Logano and runner-up Kyle Larson.
After the crash, Ryan Blaney grabbed Carson Hocevar’s fire suit, prompting a punch exchange on pit road.

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