Cole Custer, Chandler Smith frustrated after strong efforts foiled at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — With the heartland sun beaming down on Kansas Speedway Saturday afternoon, Cole Custer and Chandler Smith ferociously raced for a coveted win to open the 2024 Xfinity Series Playoffs.

Slipping and sliding across all lanes on the slick 1.5-mile oval, the two title contenders exchanged blows for the lead but were snuck up on in the closing laps as Aric Almirola took advantage of their hard-fought battle to take the spoils of victory.

A runner-up and third-place finishes for Custer and Smith, respectively, paid out good points for both but it didn’t stop the frustrations from overflowing as Custer angrily approached Smith on pit road after the No. 81 Joe Gibbs Racing driver made an assertive move off Turn 4 for the lead on the final green-flag run that caused Custer’s No. 00 Ford to kiss the wall.

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“I was to his outside and he just put me in the fence,” Custer said.

While the post-race exchange was brief, Custer told Smith that he ‘drove him like a [expletive] clown’ before walking back to his car and throwing his hand as to brush off anything Smith would say back.

Smith said he’ll go back and watch it to determine whether or not he owes Custer an apology but added that he understands why Custer was upset.

“I would be just as frustrated,” Smith admitted. “I moved up. I took his air away and took his line away for 10 or so laps there trying to hold him up as long as I can, trying to give me the best shot. Was hoping I could hold him off long enough to the 20 got to him and they started racing. I got some breathing room but I was like a lap or two short from doing that. The 20 just got to him. So, yeah, it sucks. I understand his frustration. Last week, I was frustrated with some things about Bristol and I completely get it. I understand his point of view. I definitely didn’t put him in the fence.”

MORE: Smith understands Custer’s frustration

Custer finally got around Smith with 10 laps to go but after the pair’s gritty battle, Almirola had enough car underneath him to work his way around the No. 00 without much of a fight.

In terms of their cars handling in the closing laps, Custer pinned the finish on using up everything he had to pass Smith, while Smith’s long-run pace wasn’t on par with Custer and Almirola.

“I think us and the 20 were pretty even,” Custer said. “I think we just burned our tires up racing each other for the lead. The 81, he just couldn’t run the wall on the long run. I don’t know why, but he just couldn’t. The wall was the place to be on the long run.”

“I just needed more turn on throttle, simple as that,” Smith said. “I couldn’t run the wall like those guys were and also, given our situation, having a solid points day, plus-17 to start the race, and some guys were having some issues. Risk vs. reward. I wasn’t gonna put it right up on the fence and chance wrecking the thing. I tried it on the very last lap still wasn’t any good, still needed to be a little bit better on the longer run.”

Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course are left on the Round of 12 slate for the Xfinity Series and while the two haven’t had prior on-track squabbles, Custer will keep Saturday’s race in the memory bank.

“I think it’s just a trend in the whole series,” Custer said. “I mean, people just run you in the fence so I’m over it. I understand it’s hard racing but I don’t race like that, so I don’t expect to get raced like that. But now he races me like that, I race him like that.”