Fed-up Chandler Smith rips Sam Mayer, takes up for SVG after Pocono confrontation

After the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway, Chandler Smith confronted Sam Mayer, yelling at him through his window. Smith and Mayer apparently got into it a few times on the track.

Even though Sam Mayer was confused, Chandler Smith knew exactly why he was upset with the JR Motorsports driver. He put a lot of pressure on Smith going over the tunnel turn, the most treacherous part of the track.

Eventually, Mayer did wreck Shane van Gisbergen. Another point that Smith brought up.

“I mean he sat on my door in the tunnel turn, three times and I about wrecked all three times, and then he wrecked the 97 [SVG]. He ain’t gonna mess with me anymore, I can promise you that and if he does I guarantee he won’t do it again. So, hopefully, he got the message.”

When asked if this was a long term issue, Chandler Smith said no, it was purely about what happened on the track at Pocono.

“No, I’ve never had anything go on with Mayer at all. We’ve always raced each other clean, and respectful, and I’ve had respect for him. I know a lot of other people in the garage have never really been on that same page with him. I’ve always had good run-ins with him so I was like, ‘Eh, it’s whatever I guess. Just sucks to be you, right?’ Today I got a glimpse of what they were talking about and I’m not going to put up with that.”

It will be interesting to see if this turns into a JRM vs JGR rivalry here. Sam Mayer and Chandler Smith are up front often, this won’t be the last time they race each other close.

Sam Mayer unsure why Chandler Smith is upset

After he got a talking to from Chandler Smith, Sam Mayer was asked about the conversation. Mayer wasn’t sure what upset Smith so much. The No. 1 driver chalked it up to hard racing.

“He can’t handle being raced hard, I guess, I don’t know,” Sam Mayer said, according to a video posted on Twitter by the NASCAR Xfinity Series. “That was the last person I expected to be upset with me today. Huge apologies out to the 97 guys. I just messed up. I drove in a little too hard. Brake pedal started fanning a little bit and I didn’t account for that, so that’s on me there.

“But Chandler, I don’t know, man. Not my problem.”

Sam Mayer and Chandler Smith are young. They can get hot-headed quickly. However, given what we saw from Mayer when it came to SVG, I am inclined to side with Smith on this one. Mayer was not making great judgment calls out there. Still some immaturity and experience to iron out.

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