Well, NASCAR’s playoffs can crank up one’s emotions to extreme levels. We are finally at the doorstep of the penultimate race – the Championship 4 race. Emotions boiled over in Martinsville, where the four chosen Xfinity drivers will advance. Chandler Smith, Joe Gibbs’ Xfinity star, was in a tense position, fighting hard to see that championship trophy. However, his old foe got in his way and rattled his playoff position.

Cole Custer was almost on par with Smith in terms of points. However, the Stewart-Haas Racing ace was determined to make things bleak for his rival. The defending Xfinity champion swiftly made moves to topple Smith from contention, inviting some fists along his way. Post-scuffle though, Smith is still fuming at Custer.

Chandler Smith has scarce regret

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s desperation caved in from two sides. On the one hand, Chandler Smith is without a ride for the 2025 season. On the other, the No. 81 driver had to foray into the Championship 4 to prove his mettle. Unfortunately, his rival matched him in Martinsville. Restarting second on a late restart, Smith bumped Custer out of the way. In retaliation, the latter drove up behind him and hit him in the bumper – sending the 81 car up the track. But what was more dazzling was the fistfight that followed. Smith confronted Custer and after a brief heated exchange, the JGR driver landed an uppercut on Custer.

NASCAR officials and team members separated the two. Despite Custer claiming it was not ‘so soft’, Smith was unapologetic post-brawl. In an interview, Chandler Smith admitted to racing Custer dirty in the past, like the Kansas race. “I treat him with a tremendous amount of respect. Granted, I have done him dirty a few times this year. I owned up to it, I reached out to him, I apologized, made amends, and all that.” But then he went on to explain what drove him mad in Martinsville. “Right then I beat his bumper off with five laps, I never shipped him. I finally shipped him, caution came out, he picks behind me and doesn’t even give me a chance to go into Turn 1.” 

Chandler Smith laid out his final verdict, pinning the blame on Custer. “I mean I get it. But at the end of the day, I thought it was kind of a chicken sh*t move honestly.” What stings him more is the heartbreaking loss for his 81 team which accumulated 2 wins, 15 top-fives, and 20 top-fives this season. “Can’t say enough about all the men and women at Joe Gibbs Racing. We’ve had a hell of a year. Not being able to go to the final four is definitely a kick in the gut for us. ‘Cause I feel like this team could go out and win a championship straight up.”

Yet Chandler Smith could have averted the disaster. Cole Custer warned him beforehand about this drama when they last butted heads at Kansas Speedway.

The payback hit the sore spot

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Although Cole Custer snatched championship hopes from Chandler Smith, the latter had it coming. Their previous bout also ended in Aric Almirola cruising for the victory as well. A month ago, the JGR and SHR rivals slipped and slid across all lanes of Kansas Speedway. In the meantime, Almirola took advantage of their neck-to-neck battle and grabbed the spoils of victory. The two racers’ battle climaxed on the final green-flag run. Smith made an assertive move off Turn 4 with his No. 81 car, and that caused Custer’s No. 00 to slam against the wall.

Post-race, Custer confronted Smith and said he was driving like a “f***ing clown”. Chandler Smith duly took responsibility: “I would be just as frustrated. I moved up. I took his air away and took his line away for 10 or so laps there trying to hold him up as long as I can, trying to give me the best shot. Was hoping I could hold him off long enough to the 20 got to him and they started racing. I got some breathing room but I was like a lap or two short from doing that. The 20 just got to him. So, yeah, it sucks.” Yet what mattered was Custer’s words of warning: “I understand it’s hard racing but I don’t race like that, so I don’t expect to get raced like that. But now he races me like that, I race him like that.”

Sure enough, Custer paid Smith back in the most dramatic fashion right when it hurt the most. Now out of contention for the championship, Smith can focus on fetching a ride for next year.