There is no love lost between Chandler Smith and Cole Custer. The two drivers were not just seen exchanging paint during the penultimate Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway but also a blow. As things stand, Smith doesn’t have a ride for the 2025 season. What does he have to lose? After threatening him on track, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver stayed true to his word by slapping Custer on the pit road after the checkered flag was waved, with tempers flaring in the high-stakes race.

With the 2024 National Debt Relief 250 over, the stage is set for four drivers to compete for the championship at Phoenix Raceway next week. Cole Custer remains in contention to defend his Xfinity Series crown, even if it came at the expense of a post-race physical altercation.

Smith and Custer’s rivalry takes an ugly turn in Martinsville

Chandler Smith knew that he was in a must-win situation going into the final playoff race at Martinsville Speedway. With the pressure mounting and stakes high, the No. 81 Toyota driver was mentally prepared to do what it took to keep his title hopes alive, even if that meant settling things off the track. The 22-year-old is fighting for his future in the sport and a spot in Championship 4 would have gone a long way in finding a seat for 2025. However, things didn’t go according to plan.

Both drivers made contact during the race, with Chandler Smith putting the bumper to Cole Custer to get into position to make the pass. As retaliation, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver sent the Georgia native up the track, which prompted Smith to say on the team radio, “What he’s (Cole Custer) going to do is get his f—ing a– beat after the race he keeps f—ing around. Punk a– b—h.” True to his word, the 22-year-old was seen yelling at Custer on the pit road after the race before slapping the reigning Xfinity Series champion, who walked away smiling.

While security and several crew members were present to separate the two drivers before things escalated, the altercation seemed less like a fight and more like a hit-and-run. However, with Custer fighting for the championship at Phoenix Raceway next week, will he have to look over his shoulder and fear a possible retribution? While unlikely, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility, especially now that Chandler Smith feels he has nothing to lose and could get that sweet taste of revenge when it matters the most.

It’s not the first time tensions have been high between the two drivers. At the Kansas Lottery 300, the two drivers were engaged in a heated on-track battle for the lead, with Chandler Smith forcing Custer into the outside wall. The defending champion said after the race, “Really frustrated how he put me in the fence but moving on he’ll pay consequences of that. It’s great that he expects me to be mad. But he took that risk and now I’m going to put him in the fence.” With the saga between both drivers having escalated to a physical altercation, is the matter finally put to rest, or will we see more drama at Phoenix Raceway? Time will tell.

Chandler Smith opens up about post-race altercation

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Martinsville Speedway is no stranger to emotions being boiled over. The short track witnessed an eventful post-race altercation between Chandler Smith and Cole Custer after both drivers were seen trading paint during the 2024 National Debt Relief 250. The 22-year-old took exception to how the reigning Xfinity Series champion conducted himself on track and wasn’t willing to let it slide when the checkered flag was waved at ‘The Paperclip’.

Speaking about the physical altercation, Smith told The CW Broadcast, “I was planning to do a lot more than that to be completely frank with you, I was extremely p—-d off. I gave him five laps before that before that caution came out, beat his bumper off, and never shipped him or anything like that.” The Joe Gibbs Racing driver went on to say, “He didn’t even give me a chance to make the corner when we got to turn one, and funny enough, the restart right after that, picked right behind me again. How ironic is that?”

Even though both drivers bumped each other on the racetrack, Chandler Smith isn’t closing the saga just yet. He said, “He can think we’re even and all but he’s the one that’s got more stakes than I do next weekend as well.” Meanwhile, Cole Custer couldn’t help but throw a dig at his rival during the post-race interview by saying, “I can’t even tell if he really punched me in the face it was so soft.” With both drivers having one last opportunity to race against each other at Phoenix Raceway next week, could we see some fireworks at ‘the desert oddball’?