Blaney, Hocevar Brawl After Bristol Crash

Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar made late-race contact at Bristol Motor Speedway's Bass Pro Shops Night Race on September 19, 2026, sending Blaney into the outside wall. A wire summary put the crash at 42 laps remaining; Yahoo Sports said Lap 457. Blaney finished 33rd after leading 202 laps and winning Stage 2, his second straight playoff DNF. Hocevar finished third behind Joey Logano and Kyle Larson. On pit road Blaney grabbed Hocevar's fire suit; Hocevar threw two right hooks that knocked off Blaney's hat; Blaney later landed a left before they were separated. Blaney fell from fourth to sixth in the standings; Hocevar rose to eighth. Blaney said Hocevar kept coming left, never lifted, and crashed him after he tried to protect the bottom off Turn 4, and that something was going to happen. Hocevar said he was not trying to wreck Blaney, that he had a run as Blaney went left and spun him, and that Blaney looked like he spun himself then wanted to instigate a fight. Of the pit clash Hocevar said Blaney said one thing and went after him and he was not going to take it.