NASCAR announced that its Commissioner Steve Phelps will no longer be with the organization and “has made the personal decision to step away from the company and his role as Commissioner of America’s top motorsport.”
In a blog post, NASCAR stated that Phelps will “transition out of the company by the end of [January].”
Phelps said in a statement, “As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities and firsts over my 20 years.”
He added, “Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners and the commitment of our wonderful employees. It has been an honor to help synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators and incredible racing talent. As I embark on new pursuits in sports and other industries, I want to thank the many colleagues, friends and especially the fans that have played such an important and motivational role in my career. Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family and for having a place in NASCAR’s amazing history.”
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France commented, “Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders. or 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. It’s been an honor to work alongside him in achieving the impossible, like being the first sport to return during Covid, or in delivering the unimaginable by launching new races in the LA Memorial Coliseum and NASCAR’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago. Steve leaves NASCAR with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset.”
Executive Vice Chair Lesa France Kennedy also added, “Over his two decades at NASCAR, Steve has balanced strong leadership and a consistent pursuit of excellence with a sincere commitment to our fans. He has helped to bring fans some of the best, most unforgettable moments in our history, and most importantly, he’s laid an incredible foundation for continued growth and success for the entire sport. A true consensus builder and passionate advocate, we thank Steve for bringing his intelligence, integrity and love of racing to this sport each and every day. While his career may take him elsewhere, he’ll always have a place in our NASCAR family.”
Phelps exit comes amid a nasty lawsuit with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports where it was revealed that Phelps made nasty and disparaging comments regarding Richard Childress. As shared to social media by Motorsport reporter Matt Weaver, Phelps said in communication with NASCAR’s Chief Media & Revenue Officer Brian Herbst, “Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged. He’s a stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to nascar.”
In another message, Phelps added, “These guys are short sighted and self serving. Childress is an idiot. If they don’t like the state of the sport, sell you charter and get out.”
Still in another message he posted, “Did I mention that Childress is an idiot? … If he’s that angry (and apparently he is) sign your charter extension and sell. He’s not smart – is a dinosaur – and a malcontent. He’s worth a couple hundred million dollars – every dollar associated with nascar in some fashion. Total ass-clown.”
He reiterated his claim that Childress is an idiot while discussing the cost of NASCAR’s Gen-7 car’s underwing, “No different than the bike car – they all spent millions chasing speed under the car. He’s an idiot.”
There’s a lot here in this August 30 2023 text thread with Steve Phelps, Steve O’Donnell and Brian Herbst
There’s not great conviction in their broadcast chances in 2030/31 unless the sport is in a better place
They were really frustrated with Richard Childress at the time pic.twitter.com/a8lR7VxCsW
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) November 22, 2025
Those posts led to an open letter from Bass Pro Shops owner Jimmy Morris calling for Phelps to be fired. After observing the insults flung at Childress, Morris wrote in his letter, “The fact is Richard Childress has done as much to build and promote NASCAR as anyone in the history of the sport! The commissioner, in all his rant, has only managed to bring discredit to himself and the sport.”
“Many of our teammates have validly expressed concern that the commissioner’s recently revealed contempt for Richard Childress makes it abundantly clear that he and his lieutenants are not capable of being fair and objective when it comes to impartially enforcing the rules and regulations that govern the sport, including the objective assessment of fines and penalties. This is a threat to the very integrity of the sport,” he wrote. “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? 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!”
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris: “… the commissioner’s recently revealed contempt for Richard Childress makes it abundantly clear that he and his lieutenants are not capable of being fair and objective when it comes to impartially enforcing the rules and regulations…” pic.twitter.com/ThoQ4BfwTx
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 11, 2025
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