The ongoing antitrust lawsuit involving 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR has led to the release of countless messages. One particular exchange features NASCAR President Steve Phelps calling Richard Childress a "stupid redneck."
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The messages from 2023 were part of a massive filing that occurred late Friday night. Hundreds of pages of redacted documents were uploaded to the PACER service housing everything related to this lawsuit.
One particular exhibit featured a chat between Phelps — then NASCAR President — and Executive Vice President and Chief Media & Revenue Officer Brian Herbst. The duo discussed a recent meeting with team owners and the ongoing charter negotiations.
MORE: Phelps and Herbst messages
It was in this exchange that Phelps directed multiple angry messages toward Childress.
"Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged," Phelps wrote on Aug. 30, 2023. "He's a stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to NASCAR."
The messages continued with Phelps writing that "These guys are short sighted and self serving," seemingly referencing the team owners. He then added, "Childress is an idiot. If they don't like the state of the sport, sell your charter and get out."
Phelps did not end with that comment. He continued with more comments after asking if the meeting with the owners had concluded.
"Did I mention Childress was an idiot?" Phelps asked. Herbst laughed at the comment before also calling the team owner an idiot.
"If he's that angry (and apparently he is) sign your charter extension and sell," Phelps added. "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 ass-clown."
The exchange ended shortly after as Phelps and Herbst talked about an upcoming meeting with Fox and the potential need to "fire up the planes" and head to Los Angeles. Although Phelps found one more opportunity to call Childress an idiot before ending the discussion.
These messages, which NASCAR surely did not want unsealed as trial approaches, provide yet another glimpse of the animosity between the parties involved both in the charter negotiations and then in this lawsuit.
The lead attorneys for NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports put this on display during an August hearing while accusing each other of making things up. This hearing also featured the first viewing of what has become a long list of unsealed, angry messages from each side of the lawsuit.
