NASCAR Shrugs Off Fisticuffs and Swearing, Heads Back to Old Tracks as It Embraces Its Rugged Past
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell said the sport will not discourage fighting as Hocevar and Blaney’s Bristol clash drew cheers from thousands of fans.
- Two weeks ago at the Bristol short track, NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar traded haymakers with Ryan Blaney following a late-race crash, leaving Blaney with a shiner under his right eye.
- NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell took no disciplinary action, stating the organization would encourage "passion" rather than penalize the altercation, marking a departure from decades of corporate restraint.
- The approach harkened back to the 1979 Daytona 500, when Cale Yarborough, Donnie Allison, and Bobby Allison engaged in a famous fistfight; many viewed O'Donnell's decision as embracing a "Boys, have at it" attitude.
- Alongside embracing on-track passion, NASCAR unveiled a virtual "swear jar" adding $5 per curse uttered over team radios, with the total reaching $3,880 after last week's race at Kansas Speedway.
- Driver Joey Logano noted that competitors have returned to their "blue collar" roots, moving away from the "higher society" image of previous years as the Cup Series continues its season.
16 Articles
16 Articles
NASCAR Wants Drivers to Police Themselves. But Who Polices the Pit Crews Compromising Safety?
If you had to illustrate the phrase calm before the storm, in terms of NASCAR, it would be this move by Ryan Blaney. Before he marched toward Carson Hocevar at Bristol Motor Speedway, he handed his phone to crew chief Jonathan Hassler and left his team behind. He later told Denny Hamlin’s podcast that he […]
NASCAR shrugs off swearing, fisticuffs, heads back to old tracks as it embraces its rugged past
The hats and flags and T-shirts carrying the No. 77 of NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar were flying unapologetically, and almost defiantly, over Kansas Speedway last weekend, days after a pit-road fracas at Bristol in which the up-and-coming Cup Series star traded a few haymakers with popular driver Ryan Blaney.
Ross Chastain calls Ryan Blaney's fight with Carson Hocevar at Bristol Motor Speedway 'NASCAR 101' - NEW YORK TIMES POST
While Joey Logano celebrated at Bristol Motor Speedway last week, Ryan Blaney went to fight Carson Hocevar. Blaney, ticked off after finishing 33rd following a crash that resulted from contact with Hocevar’s car, took a couple of swings at Hocevar. NASCAR star Ross Chastain called the incident “NASCAR 101.” “But seeing Ryan be upset and [...]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 34% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
