NASCAR has punished driver Carson Hocevar for an on-track incident that took place during Sunday’s Ally 400 in Nashville, the league announced Tuesday in its weekly penalty report.
Hocevar and the No. 77 team have been docked 25 points and fined $50,000 for the incident, which saw Hocevar make contact with Harrison Burton under a yellow flag, causing Burton to spin out.
Hocevar was apparently unpleased with how Burton had been racing him through the first stages of the event.
NASCAR didn’t issue any in-race penalties for the incident, but it seemed likely that they would issue a ruling in the penalty report. Hocevar was involved in a similar incident in a Craftsman Truck Series race in 2023 when he was issued a two-lap penalty for intentionally attempting to wreck Taylor Gray.
Burton did not finish the race after being involved in another wreck later on. Hocevar finished in 16th place.
The points deduction drops Hocevar from 22nd to 24th in the standings and puts him 188 points below the playoff cutline. Hocevar likely had to win a race to qualify for the playoffs, and that remains the case with the deduction.
Craftsman Truck Series drivers Matt Mills and Matt Crafton and their crew chiefs were also fined for having unsecured lugnuts during the post-race inspection after Friday’s Rackley Roofing 200.
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