NASCAR drivers Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith added another chapter to their budding rivalry on Sunday after the Freeway Insurance 500.
Smith was running eighth in the NASCAR Cup race when Hocevar's No. 77 collided with the side of Josh Berry's No. 21 and the back of Smith's No. 38.
The high-speed collision caused all three racers to lose several positions. Ultimately, Smith finished 15th and chased down Hocevar, who crossed the finish line at 12th, after the race.
Revving up to 140 MPH, he slammed into the back of Hocevar on the cool-down lap. Smith was going about 30 MPH faster than Hocevar at the point of contact, according to Motorsport.com.
During the race, Hocevar's No. 77 was bumped into Smith by the No. 1 of Ross Chastain, but the infuriated driver didn't seem to care when he was informed.
On the No. 77 radio, Hocevar's crew chief instructed the spotter to "make sure they know the damn 1 car [Chastain] shipped us, tried to crash us all."
Front Row Motorsports radioed Smith and told him the cause of the collision, but received a blunt response.
"I don't give a f***," Smith replied.
For Smith, it boiled down to yet another run-in with his rival Hocevar, whom he has publicly bashed in the past.
After the eero 400 in July, in which Smith appeared to intentionally try to wreck Hocevar, the two drivers were called in by NASCAR for a meeting.
The organized meeting apparently didn't lessen the tensions between the two, with Smith doubling down on his disdain for Hocevar.
"I just don't like him as a human," said Smith after meeting with the Spire driver and NASCAR officials. "The meeting doesn't change how much I dislike him and how much he dislikes me."
Hocevar laughed it off and joked that the two NASCAR stars may have to attend therapy.
"We'll have to go to couples counseling, I'm sure," said Hocevar. "You know, a lot of times with your partner and everything, you don't see it. So unfortunate."
Hocevar added that he was glad that Smith was not suspended for trying to wreck him during the eero 400.
"I was hoping they didn't penalize him. That'd be really soft of the sport, personally."
