NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar punches Ryan Blaney to the ground as furious pit road brawl breaks out

NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar has shockingly punched Ryan Blaney to the ground. A furious pit road brawl erupted at Bristol Motor Speedway to close out the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Carson Hocevar, left, punches Ryan Blaney after the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway Credit: Getty Hocevar, left, swings for Blaney after the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race Credit: Getty Tempers rose after Hocevar, 23, made contact with Blaney, 32, during the late stages of Saturday’s race. Blaney had been running in second place before spinning out and placing 33rd after failing to finish the race. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Meanwhile, Hocevar survived the restart to claim a third-placed finish. Drama then unfolded as Blaney confronted Hocevar as he climbed out of his car on pit road. Blaney shoved his rival, with the Spire Motorsports star responding with an overarm punch to the face. Hocevar made two connections before team members rushed in to stop the melee as Blaney fell to the ground. The late crash is a huge blow for Blaney as both drivers remain in contention for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. It comes one year after he received a $50,000 fine for making insulting comments about Mexico’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Most read in Sport Blaney is separated from an altercation with Hocevar after the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race Credit: Getty Hocevar exits his car after the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race Credit: Getty Spire Motorsports star Hocevar was also involved in several on-track incidents with rival drivers during his breakthrough season. He went on to defend his attack on Blaney during an interview with USA Today. “There wasn’t a whole lot of talking,” Hocevar said. “He just kind of said one thing and then went after me. I wasn’t going to take it. “That was for second and he wants to come fight. So I don’t think anybody’s left behind me. They got an old school Bristol show here.” Meanwhile, Blaney told NBC Sports that he was prepared to take action against his rival. “Something is going to happen,” Blaney said. “The top was kind of a crush and not as good as I wanted to be up there, but we were still making it work, but I never got to finish the race.” Comment now