NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps Resigns

NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps announced his resignation on Tuesday, effective at the end of January, capping more than two decades with the organization and coming weeks after a federal antitrust lawsuit settlement that publicly exposed his private communications with executives.

Phelps, who joined NASCAR in 2005 after working in the NFL and rose to president in 2018 before becoming the series' first commissioner last year, cited a desire to pursue new opportunities in sports and other industries. The timing of his departure, just before the 2026 season begins, follows a contentious trial brought by 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins. The suit accused NASCAR of anticompetitive practices in revenue sharing and charter agreements. Although the case settled last month, providing teams with long-term charter protections and financial clarity, the discovery process revealed emails and texts from Phelps that expressed frustration with team owners and rival series.

In one exchange, Phelps referred to Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress as a "dumbass redneck" who needed to be "taken out back and flogged." He...