Ryan Blaney admitted Carson Hocevar got the better of him during their pit road brawl at Bristol Motor Speedway and said he never meant to throw punches when he approached the Spire Motorsports driver after Saturday night’s Cup Series race.
During the latest episode of Denny Hamlin’s Actions Detrimental podcast, Blaney acknowledged that his aggressive confrontation prompted Hocevar to defend himself. The Team Penske driver also expressed regret over his behavior and accepted partial responsibility for the on-track collision that triggered their heated exchange.
The confrontation followed a late-race battle for second place during the September 19 Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Blaney had led a race-high 202 laps before passing Hocevar with 43 laps remaining.
However, the No. 77 Chevrolet driver immediately attempted a crossover move as Blaney tried to protect the bottom lane. Their cars made contact, sending the No. 12 Ford into the outside wall and ending Blaney’s race in 33rd place. Hocevar continued and eventually finished third.
Blaney initially blamed Hocevar for failing to lift, but his perspective changed after he reviewed the incident. Speaking with Hamlin and co-host Jared Allen, the 2023 Cup Series champion acknowledged that both drivers had contributed to the accident.
“Looking back on it, I’d say it’s a 50-50,” Blaney explained, adding that neither driver wanted to surrender the bottom lane.
Who was to blame for the Blaney/Hocevar wreck?
Ryan says it’s 50/50. pic.twitter.com/GtMMUm1QXx
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Hamlin offered a different perspective on Hocevar’s decision, arguing that he could have checked up slightly before attempting to move Blaney out of the way in the next corner.
In the moment, during the race, though, Hocevar held his line despite the incoming contact, which Hamlin called the nuclear option. Blaney agreed that his rival could have handled the situation differently, although he did not place the entire blame on him.
Ryan Blaney Takes Responsibility for Bristol Brawl, Admits Carson Hocevar Had Another Option
The frustration eventually carried over to pit road, where Blaney decided to confront Hocevar without involving his crew members.
The No. 12 driver said he didn’t want to approach the younger driver with several teammates because that could have signaled an intention to start a fight. Instead, he handed his phone to crew chief Jonathan Hassler and walked away without explaining his intentions.
“I didn’t really have a huge plan. Really, the only plan of mine was, you know, I’m going to have a stern conversation with Carson,” Blaney revealed during the podcast discussion.
Ryan Blaney says he went over to talk. It didn’t stay that way for long.
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YouTube: https://t.co/htmvEitRtz@Blaney | @dennyhamlin pic.twitter.com/8faftiaJhX— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) September 21, 2026
He admitted to grabbing Hocevar aggressively by the chest while attempting to express his displeasure, prompting the 23-year-old to respond with a right hand that knocked Blaney’s hat off his head.
Hocevar then landed another punch in the same spot on his cheekbone. Blaney tried to retaliate and reentered the confrontation after falling backward, but officials and crew members eventually separated the two drivers.
Reflecting on the altercation, Blaney explained that he usually vents his frustrations immediately after an incident before calming down. However, his anger gradually intensified after the Bristol crash, leading him to act in a way he acknowledged did not reflect his usual behavior.
The veteran also expressed concern about the example he had set for younger NASCAR fans and their parents. He emphasized that he tries to conduct himself in a way that children can admire and wished he had handled the situation differently.
“I went over there, and I got my a** kicked for sure,” Blaney admitted during the Actions Detrimental episode.
Despite the physical confrontation, NASCAR decided not to penalize either driver. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell explained on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast that the sanctioning body wanted competitors to resolve disagreements outside their race cars rather than retaliate on the track.