Steve Phelps Resigns As NASCAR Commissioner

[ad_1] NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned from his NASCAR place following a 20-year profession.

Throughout his time with the league, he helped information the game into the brand new media age, in addition to via the COVID pandemic. His time ended with a contentious lawsuit that uncovered his texts crucial of NASCAR drivers, staff homeowners and his personal bosses.

Phelps’ private texts turned public in the course of the antitrust lawsuit introduced by 23XI Racing and Entrance Row Motorsports towards NASCAR. The lawsuit culminated with a settlement following eight days of trial testimony.

NASCAR's Steve Phelps appears to be like on throughout pre-race actions previous to the NASCAR Cup Collection Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway

NASCAR introduced Phelps' departure Tuesday morning, indicating it was his choice and that he'll go away his position on the finish of January. He had simply began the position as commissioner final 12 months, a job that allowed him to deal with big-picture initiatives and the trajectory of the game, whereas Steve O’Donnell dealt with day-to-day operations as president.

O’Donnell stays president and no different management adjustments have been introduced.

"As a lifelong race fan, it offers me immense delight to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our nice sport via so many unbelievable challenges, alternatives and firsts over my 20 years," Phelps, who served as NASCAR president from 2018-25, stated in a press release. "Our sport is constructed on the ardour of our followers, the dedication of our groups and companions and the dedication of our great staff.

"It has been an honor to assist synthesize the passion of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of latest entrants to our ecosystem, similar to media companions, auto producers, observe operators, and unbelievable racing expertise."

NASCAR Chairman Jim France praised Phelps’ contributions to the game.

Steve Phelps' 20-year profession in NASCAR ended within the wake of a controversial textual content change that exposed his disdain for different leaders within the sport.

Phelps helped lead NASCAR’s advertising and marketing efforts over the past twenty years and led NASCAR because it negotiated its present 2025-31 media rights deal. He additionally led the game because it was one of many first sports activities to return to motion in the course of the COVID pandemic, with it finishing a full 38-race season.

"Steve will ceaselessly be remembered as certainly one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders," France stated. "For many years he has labored tirelessly to thrill followers, assist groups and execute a imaginative and prescient for the game that has handled us all to among the best moments in our practically 80-year historical past.

"It’s been an honor to work alongside him in reaching the unimaginable, like being the primary sport to return throughout COVID, or in delivering the unimaginable by launching new races within the L.A. Memorial Coliseum and NASCAR’s first-ever avenue race in downtown Chicago. Steve leaves NASCAR with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting progress mindset."

France had stood by Phelps regardless of texts that emerged in the course of the antitrust litigation.

Phelps expressed his frustration that certainly one of France’s proposals for the brand new constitution settlement was "madness," as Phelps tried to push for no less than among the groups' largest priorities throughout negotiations.

The texts additionally included Phelps’ frustration with NASCAR Cup drivers and homeowners competing within the SRX Collection, saying: "These guys are simply plain silly. Must put a knife on this trash sequence."

Phelps (L) strolling alongside NASCAR driver Christopher Bell has been praised for serving to lead the league via the COVID pandemic.

However the texts that brought about the largest blowback — and certain can be tough for him to ever overcome so far as public notion and respectability from the fanbase — have been ones that Phelps wrote about revered staff proprietor Richard Childress after Childress did an interview on SiriusXM the place he questioned who would profit from a attainable media rights deal.

"Childress must be taken out again and flogged. He’s a silly redneck who owes his whole fortune to NASCAR," Phelps wrote within the textual content.

Later within the chain, Phelps wrote: "If he’s that offended (and apparently he's) signal your constitution extension and promote. He’s not good — is a dinosaur — and a malcontent. ... Whole ass-clown."

Childress has threatened authorized motion over the texts.

Throughout his testimony in courtroom, Phelps stated he was contacted in regards to the PGA commissioner’s position and after one assembly, he took his title out of the working. Phelps was born in Vermont and grew up as a race fan. His sports activities business expertise features a stint on the NFL.

Satirically, Phelps is considered inside the sport as somebody who labored tirelessly to barter a constitution settlement that may work for groups and NASCAR and keep away from the litigation that in the end consumed the ultimate 15 months of his tenure.

"As I embark on new pursuits in sports activities and different industries, I need to thank the many colleagues, pals, and particularly the followers which have performed such an essential and motivational position in my profession," Phelps stated. "Phrases can not totally convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing expertise, for the belief of the France household, and for having a place in NASCAR’s wonderful historical past."

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.