On Tuesday, Jan. 6, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps announced his resignation from the role. This marked the end of his 20-year-long career with the stock car racing association. Following that, a fan commented on reporter Bob Pockrass’ X post about President Steve O’Donnell’s possible resignation. Pockrass shared the speculated course of action amid Phelps’ resignation.
The situation arose when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign the charter agreement in 2024 and filed an antitrust lawsuit against the sanctioning body. The Cup Series teams had a dispute over the revenue-sharing format and the charter system. However, the lawsuit was settled shortly after Phelps’ testimony. Following that, the governing body commissioner announced his resignation.
A NASCAR fan speculated that the governing body president, O’Donnell, would also resign from his role. They wrote:
“Wouldn’t be surprised if O’Donnell’s resignation is currently sitting in the printer to be delivered…”
Bob Pockrass responded to the comment and explained:
“I expect Steve O’Donnell to continue in his role as president. Phelps was working on international and big-picture planning/ideas and would expect that to be assumed by those in other roles. Don’t expect a replacement to Phelps, who was in a role more or less created for him.”
Steve Phelps worked in the NFL before starting his career in the stock car racing association as the commissioner. During his 20-year tenure, he launched new races, including the LA Coliseum and Chicago Street Course.
The Former NASCAR Commissioner Revealed the Reason Behind His “Frustration” With Richard Childress on His Chats Becoming Public
The antitrust lawsuit made Steve Phelps’ chat with Brian Herbst about Richard Childress public. The documents displayed Phelps calling Childress an “idiot” and “stupid redneck.” The former commissioner addressed his remarks in an interview with Matt Weaver.
Phelps made those remarks during a 2023 meeting where the new broadcasting rights were discussed. The former commissioner got updates from Herbst, and Phelps trashed Childress in the chat. He said (via Motorsports):
“Childress is an idiot. If they don’t like the state of the sport, sell your charter and get out. Did I mention Childress was 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 a**-clown. Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged. He’s a stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to NASCAR,” he added.
After the texts were made public during the lawsuit hearing, Steve Phelps went on an interview with Matt Weaver and explained his side of the story. Weaver then reported:
“I have been told that Phelps had reached out to Childress before these were unsealed to let him know they were coming and that the messages were just a byproduct of his frustration during a particularly tense period of conversations about the economics of NASCAR competition.”
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