NASCAR Executives Advocated for SRX Dismantlement Amidst Charter Dispute and Evolving Racing Landscape

Unsealed legal documents, a key component in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, have revealed a stark internal dialogue among NASCAR leadership concerning the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). The communications, brought to light on Friday in the lead-up to the trial scheduled for December 1, paint a picture of significant apprehension and strategic maneuvering by NASCAR executives regarding the upstart series.

At the heart of these revelations are exchanges between NASCAR Commissioner and then-President Steve Phelps and President and then-Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell. In one particularly pointed message, Phelps expressed a desire to "put a knife" into what he termed "this trash series," referring to SRX. This strong sentiment arose when NASCAR leadership realized that prominent Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin had committed to competing in the SRX season opener.

At the time of these communications, SRX was on the cusp of its third season. The series, founded by racing luminaries Tony Stewart, Ray Evernham, George Pyne, and Sandy Montag (Evernham departed after the inaugural 2021 season), had transitioned to ESPN for its third outing. This move to a Thursday night slot, a departure from its previous Saturday night broadcast on CBS, proved significant. The new programming window allowed for greater participation by active Cup Series drivers, a development that clearly triggered alarm bells within NASCAR’s executive suite.

The unsealing of these documents is part of the discovery process for the antitrust lawsuit, which centers on allegations of monopolistic practices by NASCAR. The trial is expected to delve into the intricate relationships and power dynamics within the sport.

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The specific exchange involving Phelps and O’Donnell, dated June 29, 2022, reads as follows:

Phelps: "Oh great, another owner racing in SRX."
O’Donnell: "This is NASCAR. Pure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this."
Phelps: "These guys are just plain stupid. Need to put a knife in this trash series."

The implied concern within this exchange, according to the context provided by the legal filings, is that SRX’s engagement of current NASCAR drivers constituted an infringement on NASCAR’s intellectual property and competitive domain. The series, by featuring popular drivers in a distinct format, was perceived as a direct threat to NASCAR’s ecosystem.

This was not an isolated incident of NASCAR leadership expressing concern over SRX. The previous summer, Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, also participated in an SRX event at Stafford Motor Speedway. This appearance also drew scrutiny from NASCAR officials, highlighting a pattern of perceived encroachment by SRX into the nationally televised stock car racing landscape.

Further unsealed texts from the same date (June 29, 2022) underscore the strategic anxieties within NASCAR, particularly in the context of brewing charter negotiations and the nascent discussions around Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Justin Marks’ eventual acquisition of the CARS Tour.

The messages reveal a broader discussion among NASCAR executives, including Ben Kennedy (Vice President of Racing Development) and an unidentified individual, alongside O’Donnell:

O’Donnell: "Justin Marks is racing SRX?"
Ben Kennedy: "Saw that too. Disappointing."
UNKNOWN: "They just don’t get it. I’m sure it’s cool for Justin to go get behind the wheel but there’s no regard for the bigger picture. And maybe that’s on us for not giving them that incentive, I don’t know. But you’ve got Marks, Chase (Elliott), Tony (Stewart) and (Ryan) Blaney racing on a network that competes against our rights holders. They outrated (on television) Xfinity and Trucks last weekend; it isn’t some local dirt track stuff."
O’Donnell: "Actually you have one of the voices of FOX in Waltrip, an owner of Cup cars in Stewart, our most popular driver for years and one of our champs fathers etc. This is exhibit ‘a’ that nobody gives a shit about what got them their careers. Pay em some money and they are all in. The guy who cried about safety every single day is in a box car without SAFER Barriers and not a care in the world. And by the way, who does Curtis (Polk, 23XI co-owner) have hanging with (Michael Jordan) over the weekend in Nashville? Not Ben, not me or (Scott) Prime or anyone – Marty Smith from ESPN. Coincidence? Lots to get our arms around but sadly any ‘goodwill’ seems to be lost. So smiles all around but behind the scenes we scheme and we win.’ Wait until (Dale) Jr. says he is running an event. Matter of time. They will go to North Wilkesboro with Jr. if we are not careful. We need to be the first back."
UNKNOWN: "Agreed – North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray next year with Jr and friends if we don’t make moves."
O’Donnell: "How about this for All Star – make it a combo – Bowman and Wilkes Fri/Sun."
UNKNOWN: "Sick! And flip it for 2024. We’ve got moves to make. Just need to sell them through. Should be a good working session Thursday."
Phelps: "That’s the key – we need to have everyone understand that this could turn into LIV if we don’t play our cards right. We are smarter than they are – but part of the issue is they don’t have the facts and don’t seem to want to take the time to learn or maybe they just don’t care. It’s all about the money and feeling like they have been heard and are respected. The SRX thing is just baffling to me. Why don’t they get it? Oh, they do get it, and it’s a huge FU to us."

The "LIV" reference is a clear allusion to the LIV Golf Invitational Series, a Saudi-backed golf league that emerged as a significant challenger to the established PGA Tour, causing considerable disruption and division in the sport. This comparison highlights NASCAR’s fear of a similar competitive threat emerging within its own motorsport landscape.

The executives’ discussion reveals a strategic imperative to preemptively secure popular venues and talent to prevent rivals from gaining traction. In this context, the CARS Tour’s acquisition by Earnhardt Jr. and Marks, and the subsequent revival of events at North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray, are framed as proactive measures by NASCAR to maintain control and influence.

Notably, the CARS Tour, promoted by XR in conjunction with Speedway Motorsports, held an event at North Wilkesboro in August 2022. This predated NASCAR’s own return to the iconic track for its All-Star Race in 2023. NASCAR subsequently secured a racing lease for Bowman Gray Stadium, with plans for The Clash in 2025 and a return in 2026, demonstrating a commitment to reclaiming or solidifying its presence at these historic venues.

The SRX series ultimately ceased operations, not running a fourth season in 2024. Its physical assets were reportedly sold to GMS Race Cars in 2025, indicating its conclusion as an active competitor in the racing circuit.

These unsealed communications offer a critical window into the internal dynamics of NASCAR during a period of significant negotiation and potential upheaval. The strong language used by senior executives to describe SRX and the strategic discussions about preempting competitive threats provide context for the ongoing legal battle and the broader evolution of the motorsport industry. The perceived threat from SRX, coupled with the concurrent charter negotiations and the growing influence of team owners and external investors, shaped NASCAR’s approach to maintaining its dominance.

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