NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps Resigns Following Antitrust Trial and Leaked Texts

Daytona Beach, Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
Steve Phelps announced his resignation as NASCAR Commissioner on January 6, 2026, following a backlash over leaked texts in which he referred to team owner Richard Childress as a ‘stupid redneck.’ This significant leadership shakeup, occurring shortly after a contentious antitrust settlement, leaves the organization without a direct successor as executive duties are set to be redistributed internally.