Ryan Blaney went looking for a conversation with Carson Hocevar following Saturday night’s (Sept. 19) NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
He ended up getting a lot more than that.
Blaney spoke publicly about the confrontation turned fistfight that’s gone viral for the first time Monday on Actions Detrimental. Speaking with fellow driver Denny Hamlin and co-hosts, Blaney explained what led him to approach Hocevar, how his frustration built after the race and why the incident escalated.
Blaney also acknowledged that he shared responsibility for the on-track incident that led to the altercation.
“Looking back on it, I’d say it’s a 50/50,” Blaney said. “I was wanting to protect the bottom. He was wanting to get to the bottom and [I] was there late by a little bit, and neither of us wanted to give.
“Really, I’d put it on both parties. Like, I don’t think he’s 100% to blame. I’m not 100% to blame. I think it was just two guys fighting for the bottom at Bristol.”
Blaney explained how he tried to protect his line as Hocevar crossed underneath him with a run, resulting in contact that sent Blaney around.
Despite accepting some of the blame, Blaney believed Hocevar could have handled the situation differently. The incident ended with the No. 12 knocked out of the race while Hocevar could press on and battle for the win.
“I didn’t think I deserved to just get absolutely trashed,” Blaney said.
With fewer than 50 laps remaining, Blaney was trying to hold onto second and give himself an opportunity to chase down the leader rather than settle for a points day.
“Hindsight’s 20/20.” Blaney acknowledged. “It’s like, well, if you just don’t get crashed and you go on to third, it’s a great points day. But, yeah, you know, we’re trying to win the race at Bristol.”
Blaney said his anger did not come immediately after the incident.
His typical reaction to an on-track crash is to vent initially before calming down once he gets out of the car. Saturday night, however, Blaney was more focused on trying to restart his damaged Ford.
“I wasn’t like, furious, nothing like that,” Blaney clarified. “I was kind of more calm than I normally am. And [my emotions] built over time to where it got to where it was.”
Watching a replay of the incident contributed to that frustration. So did a recent stretch of disappointing results that included a brake failure at World Wide Technology Raceway and three DNFs in five races.
“Man, it’s just, what else can go wrong currently?” Blaney recalled thinking. “And that part, I think, just started to boil a little bit in me.”
Blaney eventually made his way back to the Team Penske hauler but stayed at the track to watch the remainder of the race. When the field returned to pit road, Hocevar was among the drivers coming off the track.
That was when Blaney decided to approach him.
Blaney did not tell his Team Penske crew what he was planning to do. Instead, he handed crew chief Jonathan Hassler his phone and walked toward Hocevar without bringing his crew with him.
Blaney said going alone was intentional, believing that bringing several crew members with him would signal that he was looking for a fight.
“I didn’t really have a huge plan,” Blaney admitted. “Really, the only plan of mine was, you know, I’m going to have a stern conversation with Carson.
“I wasn’t planning on throwing anything. I just really wanted to grab him and just pretty much yell at him and show my displeasure.”
Blaney acknowledged doing just that, pushing Hocevar in the chest and grabbing him “pretty aggressively.”
Things escalated from there.
“If someone comes up to me … you’re probably going to defend yourself,” Blaney said. “And, you know, he rightfully did.”
Hocevar responded with a right hand that knocked Blaney’s hat off. Hamlin initially thought the punch had only caught the hat before realizing it had connected with his face.
“No, it got me,” Blaney said. “It got me pretty good.”
Blaney then detailed the ensuing scrum that ended with him attempting to get a punch on Hocevar.
“I’ll be honest with you, yeah, I went over there and I got my ass kicked for sure,” Blaney said. “I ate a two-piece.”
Despite speaking lightheartedly about parts of the altercation, Blaney said he regrets how he handled the situation. He noted that he tries to set a good example for younger fans who watch and root for him.
“I definitely regret the way I acted. You know, that’s really unlike me,” Blaney said.
“I just wish I wouldn’t have done that,” he later added. “I wish I would have gone about it a different way, you know, just from people watching. And I don’t ever want to set a bad example.”
Blaney said he has not spoken with Hocevar since the incident and does not expect the two to have a conversation about it.
Blaney also said he does not believe NASCAR needs to punish either driver for the altercation. Indeed, NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell Monday said in an interview neither driver would be penalized.
“It would be one thing if I went over there and threw [a punch],” Blaney said. “If I initiated, I would fully understand if I got fined.
“But like, in this case, I went over there and he reacted. And so it’s like, I don’t think they need to touch it. It just was an altercation.”
With Bristol behind him, Blaney now turns his attention to Kansas Speedway as he attempts to recover from two DNFs in the opening three races of the Chase.
As for whether there will be another conversation with Hocevar, Blaney isn’t expecting one.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said. “It is what it is, and it’s over with.”
Cameron Bebeau is a Communications & Media Studies student at Fayetteville State University, where he serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Voice, the university's student newspaper.
A two-time NC College Media Awards nominee, Cameron has spent his collegiate journalism career finding and covering stories within NASCAR and local motorsports. Cameron is based in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
I really respect Ryan for accepting responsibility and for everything he said in this interview. this sounds way more like the way he is. way more adult than Preece and the other fool parked next to Hocevar making yapping signs with their hands. those two have reached their Pinnacle in Nascar.
Now this is settled, I want to hear more from the Hooters girl.