NASCAR driver penalized after intentionally spinning competitor at Nashville

On Tuesday, NASCAR announced that Hocevar would lose 25 points and be fined $50,000 after spinning Harrison Burton under caution during Sunday's race. 

Hocevar's penalty makes it two penalties handed out by NASCAR over the Nashville weekend for intentionally crashing competitors, as Truck Series driver Layne Riggs was held for two laps after a reckless driving penalty in Friday's Rackley Roofing 200. 

Hocevar's penalty is similar to the penalty issued to Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill in May, after Hill intentionally crashed fellow driver Cole Custer on the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hill was also docked 25 points, and while his fine was $25,000, it seems reasonable that a fine for a Cup Series driver should be more than that of an Xfinity Series driver. 

Hocevar's penalty takes him from 22nd to 24th in Cup Series points, putting him 181 points below the playoff cut line with seven races to go in the regular season. The Cup Series rookie was likely in a must-win situation to make the postseason anyway, and Tuesday's penalty makes it all but official. 

Hocevar will look to rebound from this penalty in Sunday's Grant Park 165. Chicago will be an interesting test for Hocevar, as he did not run the race in 2023. Saturday's practice session will be the first laps he will turn at NASCAR's only street course, and gaining experience will be crucial to the No. 77 team's success in the race.