Richard Childress recently shared his candid thoughts about former NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps’ insulting remarks, which were disclosed during the antitrust lawsuit battle. The RCR team owner directly addressed the personal attacks on the ongoing fallout after the NASCAR controversy.
During the fact discovery in the 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports vs. NASCAR lawsuit trial, Phelps’ private conversation with Brian Herbst was revealed, which was dated around the time the teams were in talks with the charter agreement. In the text messages, the championship-winning team owner was called words like “stupid”, “redneck”, and “dinosaur.
Looking back on the same, Richard Childress spoke freely about the insulting comments weeks after the end of the NASCAR lawsuit battle. He said (via Adam Stern on X):
“As far as the personal damages that came to me, if I tell you what I think now, you’d probably be bleeping me out. That is still to be carried on in the future, the personal attacks against me. I’m like an old elephant—you don’t forget.”
These comments led to severe backlash in the NASCAR community. Moreover, became one of many factors that led to Steve Phelps’ resignation from the sport.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. candidly talks about insulting comments on Richard Childress
On an episode of Dale Jr. Download, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalled Steve Phelps’ disrespectful remarks about Richard Childress.
Speaking on the podcast, Dale Jr. said:
“A lot of things came to light that a lot of people probably wish it hadn’t. That was unfortunate for NASCAR. A lot of dirt came out. Phelps is a great dude. I know what he said about Richard Childress is not cool. I didn’t like it. I don’t think that that was a good thing to say about Richard. No matter what you think about Richard Childress, he’s near family to me.”
Dale Jr. holds a special relationship with Childress as his father and seven-time NASCAR champion drove for RCR for the majority of his storied career.
Furthermore, the NASCAR veteran said:
“I grew up in his shop, and my dad drove his race cars. I didn’t appreciate what Phelps said about him, and I would tell that to Phelps, and Phelps would agree that it was a dumb thing to say.”
