With the Xfinity Series Championship 4 looming in Phoenix, Cole Custer, Austin Hill, AJ Allmendinger, and Justin Allgaier sat down with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for an honest pre-race chat. The four contenders covered the highs, lows, and tension of their season in a candid conversation led by NASCAR’s legendary interviewer himself.

Earnhardt didn’t hold back on the tough questions, especially when addressing the recent flare-up between Custer and Chandler Smith at Martinsville. This was just the latest chapter in a season-long rivalry between the two, and Custer didn’t shy away from explaining his side. The clash at Martinsville has only added to the intensity of Custer’s season as he prepares to defend his Xfinity title, and it turns out his perspective on these rivalries is pretty straightforward.

Custer’s rivalry with Smith isn’t personal

During the chat with Dale Jr., Custer opened up about the Martinsville incident with Smith, a heated moment that saw the two bumping and jostling until tempers boiled over on pit road. When asked about it, Che was matter-of-fact: “At the end of the day, I just raced how I got raced,” he said, referring to the series of clashes that had already occurred between them throughout the season. According to Custer, Smith had put him in the wall a few times this year and had even used the bumper on him in prior races.

The drama hit its peak post-race when Smith decided to throw a punch at Custer on pit road. But on the day Custer didn’t seem fazed. “I can’t even tell if he really punched me in the face; it was so soft,” he quipped, showing that while tensions were high, he didn’t take the swing too seriously.

This wasn’t the first time the two had a run-in. The rivalry had been brewing since Kansas Speedway back in September when Smith pushed Custer into the wall during a battle for position. With the stakes so high in the playoffs, he admitted that the moment stayed on his mind. “You don’t forget,” he added. Despite the drama, he qualified for the Championship 4, squeezing past Smith in the standings, who was eliminated by Custer.

Focus on Phoenix: Championship and Redemption

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As Cole Custer preps for the Xfinity finale in Phoenix, he’s keeping his eye on a historic goal: becoming the first driver since Tyler Reddick in 2018-2019 to win back-to-back Xfinity championships. He reflected on his approach to racing in these high-pressure moments, explaining that he tries to be fair, though he won’t hesitate to defend his position. “I just try and go out there and race. I don’t try and do anybody dirty,” Custer said. Though he admitted he might have gotten a little too aggressive with AJ Allmendinger at the start of the Martinsville race, he’s focused on racing clean and staying composed on the track.

With this season’s feuds and aggressive driving behind him, Custer seems ready to face his title contenders, noting that he aims to balance intensity with respect on the track. After this season, Custer will make the jump back to full-time Cup Series racing with the Haas Factory Team in 2025, giving him all the more motivation to end his Xfinity run on a high note.

Meanwhile, Chandler Smith’s future is more uncertain. The 22-year-old has no ride confirmed for 2025, which makes missing out on the Championship 4 a tough pill to swallow. Despite racking up two wins and 21 top-10 finishes this season, he won’t be battling for the championship in Phoenix. This missed opportunity leaves Smith at a crossroads, hoping to secure a new deal in the offseason.

As for Custer, the Martinsville mayhem and his brush with Smith haven’t shaken his focus. He’s set on clinching that second title and is eager to make his return to the Cup Series. Do you think Cole Custer will go back-to-back?