Overview
- On Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, contact with about 43 laps remaining sent Ryan Blaney spinning into the outside wall and ended his race.
- After the checkered flag on pit road, Blaney grabbed Carson Hocevar’s firesuit and the two drivers traded punches before crew and officials separated them.
- Hocevar finished third while Blaney was scored 33rd, a result that moved Hocevar up in the Chase standings and damaged Blaney’s title bid.
- Team owners, drivers and media are split over whether fines or suspensions should follow and NASCAR had not announced any penalties as of the latest reports.
- The brawl deepens a growing backlash over Hocevar’s aggressive on-track style after earlier run-ins and raises the risk of retaliation in upcoming playoff races.