Overview
- A late-race chain reaction at Phoenix Raceway saw Carson Hocevar slide up into Josh Berry and the rear of Zane Smith after contact traced by reporters to Ross Chastain.
- Hocevar’s crew chief used team radio to tell the spotter to blame Chastain, saying the No. 1 car "shipped us" and "tried to crash us all."
- Front Row Motorsports first told Smith that Hocevar missed the corner and later relayed that Chastain had apparently sent Hocevar into the No. 38.
- After the checkered flag on Sunday, Smith responded to his team’s explanation with a profanity and then deliberately struck Hocevar on the cool-down lap, hitting him from behind at much higher speed.
- The incident deepens a season-long feud that included an intentional wreck at Chicagoland and a postrace brawl at Bristol, raising the risk of further retaliation and possible sanctions as teams and NASCAR review spotter audio and race footage.