A change is taking place at the top of NASCAR ahead of the 2026 season. Commissioner Steve Phelps will resign from his position and leave the company after a tenure that began in 2005.
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According to a statement from NASCAR, the league will not name a new commissioner to replace Phelps. His responsibilities will be split among the other members of the executive team.
"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," Phelps said in a press release. "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."
The departure of Phelps is one that seemed inevitable after a contentious antitrust lawsuit trial between NASCAR and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports. The discovery process revealed messages from Phelps, in particular, that caused damage.
One set of messages included Phelps saying that NASCAR needed to put a knife in the Superstar Racing Experience, which he referred to as a "trash series." Another set of messages featured him calling Richard Childress a "stupid redneck" and an "a— clown" among other things.
While Phelps apologized to Childress ahead of the trial, the situation did not end at that point.
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris wrote a letter to NASCAR about the infamous text messages and mentioned a hypothetical situation in another sport. He wrote that a new commissioner in Major League Baseball "likely wouldn't, or shouldn't" keep their job for very long if they trash talked past legends of the sport.
The trial and the discovery process painted Phelps in a poor light, but he also sparked praise throughout his tenure in the sport. He was in charge as the sport navigated COVID, and he helped get the series back in action faster than other sports leagues.
Phelps also remained a constant presence at the track throughout the season. He made his way through the garage and down pit road before every race as he greeted drivers, team owners, crew members, and fans. When one media member returned to the track after a medical issue, Phelps made a point to seek her out and personally welcome her back.
Even as the trial showed the damning text messages and emails, it also revealed that Phelps and NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell had pushed to get the teams many of the things they wanted during charter negotiations. They just did not have the final say from the NASCAR side, so the efforts were in vain.
"Over his two decades at NASCAR, Steve has balanced strong leadership and a consistent pursuit of excellence with a sincere commitment to our fans," said NASCAR Executive Vice Chair, Lesa France Kennedy.
"He has helped to bring fans some of the best, most unforgettable moments in our history, and most importantly, he's laid an incredible foundation for continued growth and success for the entire sport. A true consensus builder and passionate advocate, we thank Steve for bringing his intelligence, integrity and love of racing to this sport each and every day. While his career may take him elsewhere, he'll always have a place in our NASCAR family."
