NASCAR commissioner resigns following text message revelations

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps has resigned from his position, nan relation announced Tuesday.

Phelps, who joined NASCAR successful 2005, will modulation retired of his existent domiciled arsenic commissioner by nan extremity of this month, according to a news release. Phelps’ departure comes little than 1 twelvemonth aft he was appointed arsenic NASCAR’s first-ever commissioner successful March 2025.

“As a lifelong title fan, it gives maine immense pridefulness to person served arsenic NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our awesome athletics done truthful galore unthinkable challenges, opportunities and firsts complete my 20 years,” Phelps said successful nan release. “Our athletics is built connected nan passion of our fans, nan dedication of our teams and partners and nan committedness of our awesome employees.

“As I embark connected caller pursuits successful sports and different industries, I want to convey nan galore colleagues, friends and particularly nan fans that person played specified an important and motivational domiciled successful my career. Words cannot afloat convey nan heavy appreciation I person for this life-changing experience, for nan spot of nan France family and for having a spot successful NASCAR’s astonishing history,” he added.

Phelps’ departure besides comes 1 period aft NASCAR faced an antitrust suit from 2 title teams, including 1 owned by NBA fable Michael Jordan.

During nan trial, matter messages revealed Phelps referring to NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress arsenic “a stupid redneck” and “a full a— clown” who “needs to beryllium taken retired backmost and flogged,” according to The Athletic. He apologized to Childress during nan trial, saying his comments were made retired of frustration.

However, Bass Pro Shops laminitis Johnny Morris, an avid NASCAR fan, responded to Phelps’ comments pinch an unfastened missive calling for him to resign aliases beryllium fired arsenic commissioner.

“We can’t thief but wonderment what would hap if Major League Baseball brought successful a caller commissioner and he aliases she trash talked 1 of nan existent legends who built nan crippled for illustration Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle aliases Babe Ruth?” Morris wrote successful his letter. “Such blatant disrespect would astir apt not beryllium good pinch nan fans — specified a commissioner astir apt wouldn’t, aliases shouldn’t, support his aliases her occupation for very long!”

The time aft Morris’ letter, NASCAR settled nan suit brought by Jordan’s 23XI racing and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins.

Zach Mentz is Trending Sports and News Reporter for cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer. His past acquisition includes clip spent pinch nan Cleveland Guardians, Cannabis Business Times, and North Coast Media. His...