Steve Phelps has announced that he will step away from his NASCAR Commissioner’s role after 20 years and said that the decision to “pass the torch” came after “a great deal of reflection.”
In the letter to his NASCAR colleagues, which was published by Sports Business Journal, Phelps wrote that he felt proud of the work they have done and that he wanted to start a new chapter in his life.
“After a great deal of reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from NASCAR. … As I look ahead, I know this is the right moment for me to turn my focus to a new chapter. That choice comes with many mixed emotions, but also with deep sense of peace and satisfaction,” part of Steve Phelps’ letter read.
“I depart with immense gratitude and humility grateful for the chance to serve, and certain that I leave this sport better than I found it. Now is the right time to pass the torch to other leaders ready to build on what we’ve accomplished and accelerate into what comes next,” it continued.
Phelps rose through NASCAR’s business ranks and became the organization’s first commissioner last March. He led major deals, including a media rights agreement with Fox Sports, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon, which was reportedly worth $7.7 billion.
But the months before his departure were fraught with tension. Phelps’ disrespectful comments about Richard Childress Racing team owner were revealed after internal messages were discovered in court documents of NASCAR’s latest anti trust case. The messages drew public attention and stirred calls for leadership changes from some fans and NASCAR personalities.
Steve Phelps’ Comments That Led To Public Demand Of His Removal From NASCAR Post
After Steve Phelps’ private texts attacking the SRX series and Richard Childress leaked, he said he regretted the words and apologized, calling his messages venting from frustration.
Phelps was caught complaining about the competition from the SRX series. He said:
“These guys are plain stupid. Need to put a knife in this trash series.”
His derogatory comments about Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress included:
“A stupid redneck.”
“Needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris also wrote a letter demanding Phelps’s removal as commissioner because of the disrespect shown to Childress while Richard Childress Racing considered legal action over the insults. Fans and industry insiders also reacted with outrage and calls for accountability.
The controversy became a major part of public coverage and likely helped push Phelps to announce his resignation from the commissioner’s role, which will be effective at the end of January.
The NASCAR Cup Series’ first exhibition race of the 2026 season is set for February 1. And the sanctioning body has not announced a replacement for Phelps’ role. The position will be overseen internally by other executives and duties will be delegated through NASCAR’s president, Steve O’Donnell, and the executive leadership team.
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