> At a Glance
> – Steve Phelps resigns as NASCAR’s first-ever commissioner effective month-end
> – Inflammatory texts revealed during antitrust trial called Richard Childress “a stupid redneck”
> – Johnny Morris (Bass Pro) demanded Phelps’ removal; lawsuit settled next day
> – Why it matters: Leadership shake-up hits NASCAR weeks before 2025 season starts
Steve Phelps is stepping down after 20 years with NASCAR and a bruising federal trial that exposed his private attacks on Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress.
The Resignation
NASCAR announced Tuesday that Phelps will exit by month’s end, leaving the top post vacant with no immediate successor named. Phelps became the series’ inaugural commissioner last season after the PGA Tour had courted him for a similar role.
> “As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner,”
> Steve Phelps said in a statement.
Texts That Sparked Outrage
Court filings in the antitrust suit brought by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports revealed Phelps’ private messages:
- Called Richard Childress “a stupid redneck”
- Said Childress “needs to be taken out back and flogged”
- Showed mounting frustration over charter negotiations
Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops and a longtime Childress supporter, fired off a letter demanding Phelps’ removal. NASCAR settled the lawsuit the very next day.
Legacy and Next Steps
NASCAR credited Phelps with:
- Creating “bucket-list fan experiences”
- Expanding international presence
- Securing long-term media and charter deals
- Leading the sport’s 2020 return during COVID-19
- Launching races inside the L.A. Coliseum and on Chicago streets
> “Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders,”
> Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO, said.
Responsibilities will shift internally to President Steve O’Donnell and the executive team while the organization charts its next move.
Key Takeaways
- Phelps departs just weeks before the green flag drops on the 2025 season
- Internal texts deriding a legendary team owner proved politically fatal
- No outside search planned; NASCAR will redistribute duties among current executives
- His two-decade tenure included historic scheduling innovations and pandemic-era leadership
The commissioner role disappears as quickly as it arrived, leaving NASCAR to regroup under familiar faces already inside the garage.
