The Martinsville weekend was more than fans expected. While most fans came to watch NASCAR’s visit to the track with expectations of a tight cut-off race, they found themselves watching a whole host of controversies. Whether it was the hail melon from Christopher Bell or Chandler Smith and Cole Custer’s altercation, there was a lot to go over after the weekend. In the runup to the finale at Phoenix, Cole Custer had something to say about NASCAR’s Chandler Smith decision.
Custer ultimately advanced to the Championship 4, while Smith’s elimination marked a tough end to his season along with fines. But the real drama went down on pit road, where Smith, clearly frustrated, threw a punch at Custer. NASCAR was not going to let this slide as they fined the Joe Gibbs Racing driver $10,000 and after almost a week, Cole Custer came forward to talk about the altercation at Martinsville.
Cole Custer Reflects on Martinsville altercation with Chandler Smith
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At Martinsville, the rivalry between Cole Custer and Chandler Smith reached a boiling point. After battling it out all race long, Custer made his move in Turn 1, bumping Smith out of the way to grab a crucial position. Smith, clearly agitated, wasted no time in voicing his frustration. “I was definitely planning on getting physical,” Smith admitted post-race, calling out Custer for his aggressive on-track moves.
The drama didn’t end there. While Custer advanced to the Championship 4, Smith’s season came to a brutal end with his elimination and a fine. But the real action took place on pit road, where Smith threw a punch at Custer, and NASCAR quickly responded with fines.
After nearly a week of silence, Cole Custer spoke to Bob Pocrass on X about the altercation. When asked about the incident, he shrugged off any concerns about the aftermath. “That’s not really my concern,” Custer said, acknowledging NASCAR’s decision to step in. “I mean, NASCAR is going to do whatever they’ve got to do, I guess, but I don’t really care. It is what it is.”
When pressed about how far things should go on the track, Custer replied, “I don’t know. I mean, that’s always a tough question. I mean, you know, how ugly do you want to get?” He went on to weigh in on Smith’s actions. “Chandler’s was… I can see it going either way, whether you get fined or not, I guess.”
Cole Custer didn’t have much of an opinion on the $10K fine to Chandler Smith for slapping him at Martinsville. He said he’s not sore. pic.twitter.com/GTmGHxVUhs
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 7, 2024
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Will Cole Custer and Chandler Smith's rivalry ignite more fireworks at the Phoenix finale?
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Ultimately, Cole Custer seemed resigned to the fact that NASCAR has to draw a line. “But, you know, I think they do want to hold the reins in if you don’t want it to be absolute chaos. So, you have to have a line somewhere, I guess.” Despite the physical encounter, Custer wasn’t too shaken up: “But, you know, Chandler was definitely questionable. And if you get a fine or not, you’re not sure. No, not too sore right now. So, I’m doing alright.”
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The breakdown of what went down at Martinsville during the Xfinity Series race
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The NASCAR Xfinity Series recently saw a heated moment at the Martinsville Speedway, where tempers flared between Chandler Smith and Cole Custer, resulting in a $10,000 fine for Smith. The altercation was triggered by a fiery final lap, where Smith, already agitated, made an aggressive move on Custer. Leading up to the confrontation, Smith had made his intentions clear over the team radio, saying, “What he’s [Cole Custer] going to do is get his f—–g a– beat after the race he keeps f—–g around. Punk a– b—-.” Smith felt Custer’s moves had cost him the race, preventing a much-needed win.
Cole Custer, on the other hand, remained more composed. Reflecting on the rivalry, he said, “What comes around goes around.” Despite the punch thrown by Smith, which Custer described as “so soft,” he wasn’t shaken. He focused on his team’s effort, saying, “I’m proud of this team… I can’t wait to go to Phoenix now and see what we can do.” With the fine for Smith, the altercation seemed to be behind them as both drivers looked ahead to the next race.
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Do you think that Cole Custer and Chandler Smith will bury that hatchet at the finals in Phoenix or will there be more off-track drama in store for fans? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Will Cole Custer and Chandler Smith's rivalry ignite more fireworks at the Phoenix finale?