I was fishing with my lexa 300 and i push down the spool release.( 

it must have been half enganged) amd then i casted but the lure just whipped my rod hard. I felt stupid so i went to cast again. Now when i cast it sounds like something is grinding inside the reel(almost like a reel with a chip in it), i can no longer make accurate casts and pitches with it. It is no longer smooth. Anybody else have this situation? Or know if it is a simple fix or should i send it in to get repaired?

thanks

Did you take it apart and look at it?

pull the spool out completely and re-seat the spool and put the side plate back on. It's a cheap reel and the tolerances aren't great relative to all daiwas. The spool shaft and "t" that holds the bearing in may have slipped out of the pinion and you're reeling against it. Any turning of the handle is damaging it though. There's a few other things to look at if that doesn't work. may need a new pinion/main gear but that's the last resort. It happens. Parts are in the schematic and just order them through Daiwa. if you can tie your shoes you can replace a main gear and pinion. 

I've had this happen before once.  Turned out to be the small piece that pushes up and resets the thumb button. Just take the cover off and start reeling the handle.  It'll be rather obvious what the problem is.  

ok guys i just took my reel apart (all the way down to the Pinion gear)and put it back together today. I re-lubed all the bearings and the Pinion gear and the main drive shaft. My reel is still sounding like something is out of place when I cast (only when i cast). The Pinion gear was still in good condition. My last resort would send it into Daiwa. Any other opinions or suggestions?

send it to @Delaware Valley Tackle

Look at the pin on the spool and see if it's bent. If you want to send it in I'll be glad to look into it.