NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps resigns in wake of antitrust trial
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps is stepping away from the sport at the end of the month, NASCAR announced Tuesday.
Phelps will step away from the company and his role as commissioner. No successor will be named and no additional leadership changes will be made.
“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 firsts over my 20 years,” said Steve Phelps. “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 to 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.”
Phelps joined NASCAR in 2005 and moved through the ranks of the sport, eventually being named commissioner last year after a tenure as president.
The end of Phelps’ time with NASCAR comes after the sport’s antitrust trial that brought to light inflammatory text messages he sent to other executives in the sport. Phelps called longtime team owner Richard Childress a “stupid redneck” in messages brought to light as the trial approached.
Childress responded, threatening legal action for not only the messages but also for a violation of a non-disclosure agreement revealed in court about the possible sale of a stake in his team. However, there is no pending legal action at this time.
Jim France will remain as the CEO of NASCAR and Steve O’Donnell will remain as the president of the sport.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com