Tempers usually flare when NASCAR visits Martinsville Speedway, and that was the case on Saturday.
Following a hard-fought Xfinity Sequence playoff race, drivers Chandler Smith and Cole Custer — who completed third and fourth, respectively — raced one another laborious within the closing laps.
With underneath 40 laps to go, Smith — who wanted a win to advance to the Championship 4 at Phoenix — was working third, with Custer in second. After being affected person with Custer and tapping his bumper, Smith lastly had sufficient, transferring Custer up the observe to take over second place.
When introduced with the chance to restart behind Smith on lap 227, Custer — who restarted fourth — moved Smith up the observe, sending Smith’s No. 81 from second to exterior of the top-five.
Whereas one other warning adopted, Smith did not have sufficient time nor velocity to get round Aric Almirola for the race win. The loss knocks Smith out of the playoffs, and it may function the race that effectively ends his profession, at the least within the brief time period. In the meantime, Custer superior to the Championship 4 on factors and may have the prospect to defend his 2023 title on Nov. 9.
After the race, Smith made his emotions clear to Custer. Apparently, a verbal altercation wasn’t getting his level throughout, as he proceeded to throw a punch at Custer.
The altercation was rapidly damaged up by officers and crew members, and the 2 drivers have been separated earlier than doing their post-race interviews.
