Carson Hocevar found himself at the center of controversy following the race at Iowa Speedway when he spun Zane Smith, the Front Row Motorsports driver, causing Smith to finish in 36th place. The incident sparked tension between Hocevar and Smith’s team, with Smith’s crew chief, Ryan Bergenty, confronting Hocevar angrily during the post-race interview.
During the heated exchange, Bergenty shouted,
Hey, when are you going to f***ing drive, dude? Man, you wiped us the f*** out. Our car is f***ing wrecked because you drive like a f***ing re***d.
—Ryan Bergenty, Front Row Motorsports crew chief
Hocevar responds unapologetically with social media post
Rather than backing down after the confrontation, Hocevar doubled down on his aggressive reputation. On social media, he shared an image of a token collection machine labeled “Please take a number,” adding Drake’s track “IDGAF” as an explicit statement of his defiant attitude. This move demonstrated Hocevar’s unwillingness to soften his approach despite criticism.
This bold response resonated with many NASCAR fans who praised his fearless and uncompromising character, especially given how rare it is for a young driver to openly challenge rivals and critics alike without restraint.
NASCAR fans show strong support for Hocevar’s fearless nature
Fans on X voiced their admiration for Hocevar’s toughness and refusal to conform. One user commented,
Good. We need more like him.
—NASCAR fan
Another fan noted,
Honestly, hell yeah. The ones who become real superstars didn’t let anyone change them and went toe to toe. Obviously, he needs to win to actually achieve that status, but Harvick, Busch, Earnhardt, Stewart…all of them never backed down. Finished 8th after all of the shenanigans.
—NASCAR fan
There were also calls to preserve Hocevar’s raw persona as he compares favorably to Ross Chastain, who transformed into a more restrained driver after mentorship from Rick Hendrick. A third fan said,
Protect him at all costs. Don’t let him tuck tail like Ross. Keep him the way he is.
—NASCAR fan
Another supportive comment underscored Hocevar’s appeal to modern NASCAR audiences, stating,
There’s a reason why he’s become one of my favorite drivers. He is exactly what modern NASCAR needs as far as personality. A young hotshot with lots of skill, doesn’t GAF, caters to the youngest generation of fans with live-streaming. It’s exactly what we need.
—NASCAR fan
Future prospects depend on Hocevar translating attitude into success
While Hocevar’s fierce personality is winning him fans, the next step is translating that energy into victories. Without solid on-track results, such defiance may fall short of long-term success. Currently driving the No. 77 car, Hocevar needs to secure a trip to Victory Lane to back up his fearless approach with tangible achievements during the remainder of the NASCAR season.
The ongoing rivalry with Zane Smith and reactions from the NASCAR community highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing Hocevar as he continues to establish himself in the sport while maintaining his bold identity.