Blaney Returns to Kansas After Hocevar Fight

Ryan Blaney arrived at Kansas Speedway on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, with a black eye from a post-race fight with Carson Hocevar. The two made contact late in the Sept. 19 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway; Blaney's No. 12 Team Penske Ford went into the outside wall and his race ended. Blaney approached Hocevar on pit road, they traded punches, and crew members separated them. NASCAR reviewed the matter and announced no penalties for either driver or crew members. NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell called it an emotional post-race situation. Blaney enters Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 sixth in the Chase, 52 points behind Kyle Larson. At Kansas media availability Blaney said of the eye, "It's fine. I know I wish it healed a little bit quicker than this, but it did not." He called the fight "definitely unlike me," said frustration "slowly built over the half hour or so" and over a rough Chase stretch, and said Roger Penske called with support the morning after Bristol. On Hamlin's podcast he acknowledged grabbing Hocevar first. He said he was content with no penalty and expected to keep racing hard. No contested facts among outlets were found in the record. Cup practice is Saturday at 10 a.m. ET; the race is Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.