NASCAR announced today that longtime commissioner Steve Phelps has resigned following fallout from an antitrust lawsuit that eroded confidence in his leadership. Phelps had been with the racing organization for over 20 years, first coming on board in 2005 as vice president of corporate marketing,

His resignation follows the disclosure that Phelps sent combative texts during negotiations in a complex revenue-sharing lawsuit. Phelps will depart NASCAR by the end of the month, ahead of the Feb. 1 start of the racing season.

What Went Down

The lawsuit involved NASCAR against two of its Cup Series teams, including Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing. In that trial, which ended in a settlement, it was revealed that Phelps sent several internal messages, including some inflammatory ones, to other NASCAR officials.

The most damaging of these were texts Phelps exchanged with NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell and executive vice president Brian Herbst about team owner Richard Childress. In one of the texts, Phelps reacted to an appearance Childress made on television, during which he criticized the sport as negotiations on the organization’s media deal were being finalized. In the text, he called Childress a “stupid redneck” and a “total assclown” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.”

NASCAR and Phelps Announcements

NASCAR executive vice chair Lesa France Kennedy issued this statement regarding Phelps’ resignation.

“Steve Phelps made a personal decision and will leave his role by the end of the month. Over his two decades at NASCAR, Steve has balanced strong leadership and a consistent pursuit of excellence with a sincere commitment to our fans. 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 family.”

And Phelps had this to say about his time at NASCAR: “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.

“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.”

Moving Foward

NASCAR announced that Phelps’ responsibilities will be delegated internally through president Steve O’Donnell and the executive leadership team. No other leadership or personnel changes were announced, and no plan to replace Phelps as commissioner was mentioned.