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NASCAR insiders react to Chandler Smith, Cole Custer fight at Martinsville

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones11/06/24brianjones_93
NASCAR Xfinity Martinsville
Nov 2, 2024; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Chandler Smith (81) leads the field into turn four during the National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Chandler Smith and Cole Custer fought after the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff race at Martinsville on Saturday, and two NASCAR insiders agreed on one thing about the altercation. On The Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reacted to the fight and the incident that led up to it.

“Chandler Smith made the bump first,” Gluck said while speaking to Bianchi. “And then Cole Custer, by the way, already kind of owed him from previous races, then said, ‘You know what, we got a caution here. I’m going to line up right behind you and I’m going to drive you right off into the corner.’ And he did. Chandler Smith was obviously upset about it afterwards and gave him a smack or whatever you want to call that. I don’t think it was quite a punch. Cole Custer, there’s pictures of him laughing at this.”

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Bianchi responded, “Oh it was very wrestling move. It was great. It was fantastic.”

Gluck then added, “Chandler Smith obviously got his point across. Cole Custer felt like he did what he had to do. That whole thing I thought was fair game, didn’t have a problem with it.”

Chandler Smith speaks out on his fight with Cole Custer

Smith and Custer were battling for a spot in the Xfinity Series Championship 4 at Phoenix on Sunday. With Custer bumping Smith at the end of the race, he clinched a spot while Smith was eliminated from the playoffs. To add insult to injury, Smith was fined $10,000 for his altercation with Smith.

“I was planning to do more than that,” Smith said after throwing a punch at Custer, per NASCAR.com. “I was extremely pissed off. I gave him five laps before that caution came out and beat his bumper off and never shipped him or anything like that. Then finally, it’s like, alright, the laps are winding down. I’m in a must-win. The 20’s [Aric Almirola] starting to drive away. He was really good all day. I can’t waste any more time with him. So I finally had a good enough run and pushed him up the racetrack and went on our way.”