Steve Phelps Resigns From His Role as NASCAR Commissioner

Credit: Sarah Crabill

Steve Phelps has resigned from his role as NASCAR commissioner. The announcement was made on Tuesday, January 6th and will be effective by the end of the month. Phelps has spent two decades with the top racing series in the United States. 

Phelps's resignation follows a nasty federal antitrust lawsuit between NASCAR and teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. During the trial, inappropriate texts were revealed, and Phelps's leadership was brought under scrutiny. 

The text messages that were exchanged included Phelps calling Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.” 

As a result of these revelations, Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, wrote a letter calling for Phelps to be removed from his role as commissioner.  Morris and Bass Pro Shops are avid supporters of NASCAR as a whole, and sponsor Austin Dillon (who also happens to be Childress's grandson) in the Cup Series. 

The following day, NASCAR settled with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. 

“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,” said Steve Phelps. “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.”

Phelps began his career within the NASCAR circuit in 2005, when he was hired as Vice President of Corporate Marketing. Six months later, he was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer. 

In September of 2018, NASCAR announced Phelps as the President of NASCAR. As President of NASCAR, Phelps oversaw the merger between the track-owning organization, International Speedway Corporation. He led the development of NASCAR’s Next Gen car in 2022 and negotiated the sport’s new media rights deal in 2023. 

When Phelps was promoted to NASCAR Commissioner, he oversaw international expansion, including the purchase and ownership of IMSA. 

 “Over his two decades at NASCAR, Steve has balanced strong leadership and a consistent pursuit of excellence with a sincere commitment to our fans,” said NASCAR Executive Vice Chair Lesa France Kennedy. “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.”

NASCAR has not announced any additional leadership or personnel changes and has no plans to hire a new Commissioner.