Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to NASCAR fining Chandler Smith for slapping Cole Custer at Martinsville
In the aftermath of this past Saturday’s National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway, Cole Custer and Chandler Smith got into a heated argument on pit road which resulted in the latter slapping his fellow competitor in the face.
Smith paid a price for the slap, as NASCAR fined him $10,000 on Tuesday. Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacted to the fine on “DJD Reloaded” this week, wondering how a simple slap gave Custer a black eye.
“Chandler Smith was fined $10,000. … The slap gave our boy Cole Custer a black eye,” Earnhardt said. “Damn, I didn’t think slaps could give you a black eye. That’s why I asked him if he had a ring on, maybe the ring into the [eye]brow bone could give you the black eye you’re looking for. I was shocked. I sit there for 20 minutes interviewing their asses and didn’t see it. All of a sudden, I’m like, ‘Holy sh*t. I can’t wait for him to shut up so I can ask him if he’s got a black eye.’”
Chandler Smith explains pit road scuffle with Cole Custer
Smith, in need of a victory to advance to the Championship 4 at Phoenix this Saturday, started on the outside of Row 1 on a restart with 29 laps to go. Custer took the lane behind Smith’s No. 81 Toyota and moved Smith in Turn 1. Earlier in the race, Smith had moved Custer out of the way while battling for second. Custer returned the favor, and Smith took exception to it.
Smith finished third, missing out on an opportunity to compete for a championship at Phoenix. Aric Almirola took the checkered flag.
“I was planning to do more than that,” Smith said of the slap to Custer. “I was extremely pissed off. 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 [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.”
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