NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps will resign from his position at the end of January. Phelps, who has been with NASCAR since 2005, announced his resignation in a statement Tuesday.
Phelps’ statement read:
“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 first over my 20 years.
“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 in 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.”
NACAR said Tuesday that Phelps “made the personal decision to step away from the company.” The company did not announce additional leadership changes and said it does not plan to hire a new commissioner. Phelps’ responsibilities will be delegated to other NASCAR executives.
Advertisement
The news comes months after court filings revealed Phelps made derogatory comments about RCR team owner and former driver Richard Childress.
In a 2023 text exchange with NASCAR VP Brian Herbst, Phelps called Childress a “stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.” Phelps also referred to Childress as a “total ass-clown” in the exchange. Those comments came while NASCAR was working on a new charter agreement with Childress.
That text exchange came to light in November as part of the 23XI/FRM vs. NASCAR antitrust lawsuit. Phelps came under scrutiny after those remarks were revealed, with Childress saying he was seeking legal action and Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris implying Phelps should be removed from his position. Bass Pro Shops has been a partner with the sport for years.
Advertisement
In December, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR announced a settlement, ending the lawsuit.
Phelps’ resignation ends his 20-year run with NASCAR. He originally joined the company in 2005 as its vice president of corporate marketing. Phelps worked his way up through the organization over the years, eventually being named its president in 2018.
In March of 2025, Phelps was promoted into the role of commissioner. He lasted less than a year in that position.
