With emotions still running high from the on-track battles, Smith approached Custer on pit road and, in a surprising turn of events, slapped him. The tension boiled over following a late-race incident where Custer’s aggressive maneuvering cost Smith his shot at the Championship 4.The drama began when Smith was in a prime position, running second as the race neared its conclusion. After a late caution with less than 25 laps remaining, Smith had been racing hard, even bumping Custer out of the way earlier in the race. However, when the caution flew and the field reset, it was Custer who lined up directly behind Smith.

As they entered Turn 1 on the restart, Custer didn’t hesitate to send a message by hitting Smith’s rear bumper, pushing him up the track. Smith, visibly frustrated, expressed that he felt Custer’s move was unnecessary, saying, “I thought it was a little bit of a (expletive) move, honestly.”

This confrontation marked the second time in the playoffs that these two had clashed, with Custer previously voicing his displeasure about Smith’s driving at Kansas. As Smith faces an uncertain future without a ride for next season, he posted a heartfelt message on social media before the race, highlighting his determination and love for racing, stating, “I’ll fight, I’ll claw, I’ll drive like my life depends on it.”

It’s clear that for Smith, the stakes were incredibly high, and the fallout with Custer was just one of many emotional battles in this intense NASCAR season. Smith is out of the playoffs and Custer will head into the finals. With that said, do you think that Chandler Smith’s behavior is justified? Share your thoughts in the comments below.