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Unsealed court documents, released Friday in the lead-up to the antitrust lawsuit trial of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports v. NASCAR scheduled for December 1, reveal a sharp internal dialogue within NASCAR leadership regarding the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series. Communications between NASCAR Commissioner and then-President Steve Phelps and President and then-Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell indicate a strong sentiment to "put a knife into this trash series," specifically when Denny Hamlin, a prominent Cup Series driver and team owner, agreed to compete in the SRX season opener.
The unearthed emails and text messages provide a window into the strategic considerations and internal anxieties of NASCAR’s top brass during a critical period, coinciding with ongoing charter negotiations and broader discussions about the future of stock car racing. The timing of these communications, particularly those from June 29, 2022, sheds light on the complex ecosystem of professional motorsports and the perceived threats and opportunities facing NASCAR.
At the time of the communications, the Superstar Racing Experience was gearing up for its third season. Its shift to ESPN for the 2022 season, moving from its previous Saturday night slot on CBS to Thursday nights, was significant. This scheduling change, coupled with the series’ format, which allowed for greater participation by active NASCAR Cup Series drivers, apparently drew the ire of NASCAR leadership. The SRX, founded by racing luminaries Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham, alongside George Pyne and Sandy Montag, aimed to provide a platform for veteran drivers and draw significant viewership. Evernham departed the group after the inaugural 2021 season, and Donald Hawk served as CEO in 2022 and 2023.
The core of NASCAR’s apparent concern, as suggested by the documents, revolved around the potential for SRX to infringe upon NASCAR’s intellectual property and market share by leveraging its drivers and its presence on nationally televised platforms. The exchange between Phelps and O’Donnell starkly illustrates this sentiment:
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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."
This exchange, according to the context provided, implies a belief that SRX’s engagement with current NASCAR drivers was a direct challenge to NASCAR’s own series and driver development pipelines. The perceived threat was amplified by the fact that SRX was airing on a network that also held broadcast rights for NASCAR’s Xfinity and Truck Series, potentially diluting viewership and complicating media rights negotiations.
Further exacerbating NASCAR’s concerns was the participation of Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks in an SRX event at Stafford Motor Speedway the summer prior. This instance also generated considerable discussion among NASCAR leadership, highlighting their sensitivity to any entity operating within the nationally televised stock car racing space that could potentially divert attention or resources.
Another set of unsealed texts from the same period (June 29, 2022) reveals a more extensive discussion involving O’Donnell and Ben Kennedy (NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Racing Development), along with an unidentified individual, that touches upon the burgeoning charter negotiations and the strategic moves of prominent figures within the sport, such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Justin Marks’ eventual purchase of the CARS Tour.
O’Donnell: "Justin Marks is racing SRX?"
Ben Kennedy: "Saw that too. Disappointing."
UNKNOWN: "They just don’t get it. I’m sure its 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."
The "UNKNOWN" participant’s statement is particularly revealing, pointing out that SRX was not a minor, regional series but a nationally televised competitor that was outperforming NASCAR’s own developmental series in viewership. This directly challenged the notion that SRX was a negligible entity.
O’Donnell’s response elaborates on the perceived hypocrisy and self-interest of some drivers and owners, alluding to the complex dynamics at play:
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.”
This candid assessment from O’Donnell underscores a deep-seated frustration within NASCAR leadership, suggesting a belief that drivers and owners were prioritizing personal opportunities and financial gain over loyalty to NASCAR. The mention of Curtis Polk, a co-owner of 23XI Racing, with Michael Jordan and Marty Smith from ESPN, hints at perceived clandestine dealings and strategic alliances outside of NASCAR’s direct purview. O’Donnell’s concluding remark, "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," highlights a proactive, almost defensive, strategy to counter potential threats by securing key venues and personalities.
The subsequent exchange further illustrates NASCAR’s strategic thinking and apprehension:
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"
This rapid-fire discussion reveals a clear intent to preemptively engage with popular drivers and historically significant tracks to maintain NASCAR’s dominance. The mention of North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray, both iconic tracks with deep roots in stock car racing, suggests a strategy to co-opt potential SRX venues or events.
Phelps’s final comment in this particular thread ties the SRX situation directly to the broader context of the evolving motorsport landscape, drawing a parallel to the burgeoning LIV Golf controversy:
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."
This statement positions SRX, in the eyes of NASCAR leadership, as a potential catalyst for a more significant disruption within motorsports, akin to the challenges posed by LIV Golf to professional golf. Phelps’s assertion that NASCAR is "smarter than they are" suggests a confidence in their strategic capabilities, while simultaneously acknowledging a communication gap and a potential disconnect in understanding the motivations of drivers and team owners. The "huge FU to us" sentiment reveals a perception of SRX’s actions as a direct affront to NASCAR’s authority and business model.
In the aftermath of these communications, the CARS Tour, in conjunction with XR and Speedway Motorsports, indeed hosted an event at North Wilkesboro in August 2022, predating NASCAR’s own return to the iconic track for its All-Star Race in 2023. NASCAR subsequently secured a lease for Bowman Gray Stadium, leading to its inclusion in The Clash in 2025 and a confirmed return in 2026. The Superstar Racing Experience did not proceed with a fourth season in 2024, and its physical assets were reportedly sold to GMS Race Cars. The unsealed documents suggest that NASCAR’s strategic maneuvers, driven by concerns over competitive threats and the pursuit of control over key racing assets and talent, may have played a role in shaping the trajectory of these competing series.
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