NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps has resigned one month after a contentious antitrust lawsuit and trial raised concerns about faith in his leadership.
Phelps, who has been with NASCAR for more than 20 years, will leave his role by the end of the month, the league said Tuesday in a statement announcing the move. Phelps thanked “the many colleagues, friends, and especially the fans” that shaped his career.
Though the lawsuit brought by two race teams, including one owned by Michael Jordan, was ultimately settled, NASCAR’s executive team was bruised in the process — perhaps Phelps chief among them.
The discovery process revealed the existence of text messages and emails from Phelps that showed he called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a “stupid redneck” and “total a— clown” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged,” among other things.
Childress, who was the car owner for six championships won by the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., is admired among the NASCAR fan base and his team’s sponsors — including major backer Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shops, who wrote an open letter calling for Phelps to step down or be fired.
“We can’t help but wonder what would happen if Major League Baseball brought in a new commissioner and he or she trash talked one of the true legends who built the game like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth?” Morris wrote. “Such blatant disrespect would probably not sit well with the fans — such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, keep his or her job for very long!”
Phelps testified during the trial that his comments were made out of frustration, and he apologized to Childress. The private communications struck many in NASCAR as out of character for Phelps, who had previously been regarded as a consistent, steady hand who calmly guided NASCAR out of the turmoil from the previous leadership era as NASCAR’s president beginning in 2018.
But his messages about Childress and SRX — a startup series NASCAR viewed as a possible threat — made for a difficult pathway for Phelps to move forward after the trial aired so much dirty laundry.
“Need to put a knife in this trash series,” he had texted about SRX.
Phelps was also the self-described “head negotiator” for the charter agreement that led to the two teams suing NASCAR for illegal abuse of monopoly powers — and ultimately prevailing in the settlement by getting the terms they sought.
Ironically, Phelps and NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell were both revealed as moderates who tried to get NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France to agree to help the teams with their requests, but were ultimately shot down.
So Phelps took his marching orders from France and was forced to draw a hard line with teams to conclude the long negotiations.
“Lots of options, but all have the same theme: Pick a date and they can sign or lose their charters. It is that simple,” Phelps wrote in one email.
Though fans certainly turned on Phelps as a result of his texts about Childress, the NASCAR garage will likely feel much more ambivalent about the news of his departure. Even Denny Hamlin, Jordan’s co-owner at 23XI Racing, said Phelps is a “huge asset” for NASCAR and that NASCAR is “lucky” to have him in the years leading up to the lawsuit.
Phelps talks with driver Chase Elliott before a race in Darlington, S.C., in April. Phelps was known for his pre-race walks down pit road. (Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Phelps was known for walking up and down pit road before each race to shake hands and greet each driver, a highly visible and public-facing presence who was often tasked with speaking for NASCAR (France has never done a news conference during his time as NASCAR CEO).
Phelps joined NASCAR in 2005 as vice president of corporate marketing, beginning his climb up the sport’s ranks. In 2018, he was promoted to chief operating officer and later that year became president, just the fifth in NASCAR history. In the spring of 2025, Phelps was named NASCAR’s first-ever commissioner, a role specifically created to allow him to take on a broader perspective and focus on growing the company not only domestically but globally.
During Phelps’ tenure with NASCAR, he is credited with leading the company through the COVID-19 pandemic. After shutting down for several weeks, NASCAR was one of the first sports leagues to return to competition, working with federal and state agencies to build a plan that allowed NASCAR to host events throughout the country.
Even with the multi-week stoppage, NASCAR was able to complete the balance of its 38-race schedule on time. Because it was able to fulfill its contract obligations to its media partners, much-needed capital continued flowing into the sport, which enabled many teams to continue operations.
“Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders,” France said in the announcement. “For decades he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history.”
