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Chandler Smith had strong words for Cole Custer after the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway. Smith said he would ‘do a lot more’ than just throwing a punch at Custer after he was bumped out of P2 during the race.
Smith is a 22-year-old Georgia native who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. Meanwhile, Custer drives for Stewart-Haas Racing, an outgoing team owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart.
In the post-race interview, Chandler Smith threatened Cole Custer, saying:
“I’m planning to do a lot more than that, to be completely frank with you. I was extremely pissed off.” [0:12]
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The No. 81 Toyota driver explained he gave Custer five laps to close the gap to the leader before he decided to bump his rival out of the way. A caution was shortly thrown following a wreck behind the pack. During the restart, Custer bumped Smith, causing them to lose positions.
“I gave him five laps before that caution came out and beat his bumper off and never shipped him or anything like that. Then finally, it’s like, all right, the laps are winding down, I’m in a must-win, the 20 starting to drive away he was really good all day, I can’t waste any more time with him. So I finally had a good enough run and pushed him up the racetrack and went on our way,” Smith added.
The No. 81 car finished in P3 at the National Debt Relief 250, with the No. 00 car of Custer coming home in P5. However, Smith failed to score enough points to advance to the next round, while Custer earned the chance to defend his title in the Championship 4.
Chandler Smith, Cole Custer, and the rest of the NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will return to Phoenix Raceway for the season finale scheduled for November 9.
Reactions to the physical altercation between Chandler Smith and Cole Custer after the Martinsville race
Following the Martinsville Xfinity race, Chandler Smith described Cole Custer's bump-and-run move on him as 'chickensh*t.' However, he wasn't the only one who had a say about the incident, as fans made their feelings known on X (formerly Twitter).
One X user argued that Smith should get a penalty for hitting Custer after the race, saying:
"Chandler Smith needs penalty."
Another fan commented on the physical altercation.
"That’s not a punch. It’s like he wanted to hit him and didn’t at the same time."
One user believes the current playoff format was one of the reasons why the two drivers had a heated exchange, saying:
"Cole's move to bumper Smith on the late restart was exactly what this playoff system breeds. Smith had a car to win and that win would eliminate Cole. So Cole drills Smith to keep him from possibly winning. This isn't racing."
Another fan told Smith to learn construction after the driver said he would start working for his father's construction business if no teams would give him a seat for 2025.
"Get ready to learn construction buddy."
While Chandler Smith is set to leave the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Cole Custer will head to the Cup Series under the Haas Factory Team next year.
