There's one NASCAR star turning heads with his fearless approach on track. And after his incident involving Carson Hocevar at Chicagoland, it has taken his reputation to the next level. Even Ex-FOX Sports broadcaster Kenny Wallace has now weighed in on Zane Smith’s growing reputation. 

During the recent episode of "Coffee with Kenny", Kenny Wallace spoke about how NASCAR needed a driver like Smith. 

"Zane Smith is good for the fans. It's the best thing that's happened in ages," he said(via Kenny Wallace on YouTube).

During the race at Chicagoland on July 5th, on Lap 32, Smith intentionally drove into Hocevar, causing major damage to both cars. After this, Smith has been pretty blunt about his resentment towards Hocevar. 

 Further elaborating on his point, the former NASCAR broadcaster recalled the old rivalries on track and how they helped popularize the sport. He said:

"Dale Senior and Darell Waltrip. That one goes back to 84. If you remember the old Richmond fairgrounds, Senior going down to the back straightaway, Dale Senior hooked Darrell Waltrip. That was feud number one."

Wallace was talking about the battle fans saw at Richmond in 1986, when Earnhardt and Waltrip made contact. While Waltrip made the first contact, sending Earnhardt up the track, Earnhardt returned the favor. He hit Waltrip's right rear tire into Turn 3 and sent Waltrip spinning. That moment forever immortalized their rivalry and fans loved it.

"And then you go on and on. So what was good about all those feuds back in my day? Dale Senior kept s*** stirred up. The fans didn't know what to think, and they learned to love Dale (Earnhardt)Sr. He was the show-popping, everybody in the a**, spinning them out."

Wallace believes there's something similar happening in the modern day. Following the race in Chicagoland, Smith made it clear he wasn't fond of Hocevar. The Spire driver hit back, and these exchanges are what fans want to see more of.

"I think he knew what he was doing. Zane Smith said we could never be friends. I don't like him. Zane Smith, I don't like Carson Hocevar. He don't race good. He's not a good person. And the fans are eating it up on social media. This is good for the sport, everybody. 

With Smith showing no signs of backing down from his stance about Hocevar, the rivalry could attract attention to NASCAR for the remainder of the season. 

Zane Smith opens up on Carson Hocevar feud after NASCAR meeting

While talking to the media post the meeting in the NASCAR hauler, the Front Row Motorsports driver explained how the previous run-in contributed to their run-in at Chicagoland. 

Smith used the Nashville race run-in as one example. He said. (via Frontstretch on YouTube) 

"Just runs into me and then points me by. And then talks c*** to the media and, I don’t know. That’s a goon, in my opinion… he might act like a tough guy, but he won’t even look you in the eye [off the track]."

Despite Smith’s continued criticism of Carson Hocevar throughout the week, another on-track clash is unlikely to unfold between the two due to the stern warning issued to both drivers by NASCAR, which states that both drivers will face sever fine and penalties if this happens. 

Read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar