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Jeb Burton explains fight with Chandler Smith and Kaulig Racing team

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•06/03/23•

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Jeb Barton
(David Jensen/Getty Images)

NASCAR’s Xfinity Series race saw some tempers flare late in the event, with Jeb Burton and Chandler Smith plus the Kaulig Racing team getting into it. Despite being teammates, Burton was not happy with the way Smith was running people over on the track and decided to make his voice hear.

Burton threatened Smith over the radio while the two were still in the car. And then once seen face-to-face with one another, there were some punches thrown as the two sides got into a fight.

An explanation from Burton came after the race, explaining why he was upset with Smith. This was not a one-off incident according to him, saying there have been frustrations bubbling for quite some time.

“I got ran over going into the last corner,” Burton said. “And then I ran him over the last straight away because I’ve already been unhappy with the way he runs over everybody and I just let him know I didn’t appreciate it, no contact. Then he dumped me trying to get into one… then he dumped me into three or four. I’m just done.”

Burton admitted this was not something he wanted to do either. There seems to be some mutual respect between him and the Kaulig Racing team, wanting to keep things civil — especially as teammates. But whenever there is a disagreement, Burton has to take action.

Unfortunately, things got physical from Burton’s end. At one point, he was in a headlock from a crew member and was also grabbed by the neck in an attempt to pull him away. To say they were not happy with each other would be an understatement, even if they respect each other.

“I respect a lot of those guys on that team so I don’t want to crash their race car,” Burton said. “So, I had to hit them on the upside of the head. Maybe it will get his attention. It’s frustrating.”

When asked if there was going to be any kind of reaching out to Smith/Kaulig, he said it would not be necessary. Burton let his physicality do all of the talking.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Burton said. “I let my fists do the talking.”

By the way Burton was talking, you could hear how frustrating the situation was to him. Both on and off the track, that was not a position he wanted to find himself in.