“Little bit of a chickens**t move”: Chandler Smith doesn’t hold back on Cole Custer criticism following Martinsville

NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Cole Custer and Chandler Smith have been no strangers to run-ins with each other in the 2024 playoff season. The duo had a spat during the Martinsville Speedway race, and as soon as their cars entered the pit road, they engaged in a big fight. Later, in a post-race interview, Smith criticised Custer's move.

The whole fiasco started during the final stretch of the National Debt Relief 250 race held on November 2, 2024 at the Martinsville track. In lap 220, the #81 Toyota Supra driver bumped into Custer to take his position. The #00 driver did the same in lap 227 and pushed Smith out of the groove in turn one, and both drivers lost their positions.

In the interview, Chandler Smith highlighted that the duo executed some dirty tricks on each other this year. He mentioned that he "owned up to him (Cole Custer)." Smith continued that he "apologised" to Cuter and "made amends" to avoid any future conflicts.

He gave some insights on the fiasco and said:

"I beat his bumper off for five laps. I didn't ever ship him. And finally, I shipped some call. He came out. He picks behind me and doesn't even give me a chance going to turn one. I mean, I get it, but at the end of the day, I thought it was a little bit of a chicken shit move, honestly." [00:12]

Part-time Xfinity Series driver for Joe Gibbs Racing Aric Almirola won the Championship 4 decider race. Chandler Smith finished in third place, earning 46 points and lead 36 laps. But this wasn't enough to help Smith advance to the final race of the 2024 season.

---

Cole Custer promised payback to Chandler Smith after the incident at the Kansas Speedway

The Xfinity Series race at the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway raised the heat between Chandler Smith and Cole Custer. The #00 driver claimed the Smith raced like a "clown" and vowed to pay him back in the upcoming races.

In the 200-lap race, the duo battled each other to win the event. With 10 laps to go in the race, Custer passed the Joe Gibbs driver Aric Almirola but got derailed after surpassing him. The #20 driver grabbed the opportunity and won the race, crossing the finish line before Cole Custer.

Custer was not impressed by Chandler Smith's driving in the race. In a late-race interview, he expressed his frustration about the situation:

"It really made me mad when he put us in the fence on that restart. He's gonna pay the consequences for that. I'm gonna race him like he races me."

Chandler Smith tried to explain his side of the story, but Custer was not in the mood and walked away from him before he could do so.