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Unsealed text messages, revealed through fact discovery in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, have brought to light remarkably candid and disparaging remarks made by NASCAR President Steve Phelps concerning veteran team owner Richard Childress. The communications, exchanged during a 2023 meeting with team owners, illustrate a significant rift and a notable lack of professional respect from the league’s commissioner towards a six-time Cup Series championship-winning owner.
The context for these exchanges was a critical meeting focused on charter extension and contraction negotiations. Phelps and NASCAR’s Chief Media & Revenue Officer, Brian Herbst, were reportedly aiming to underscore the potential vulnerabilities of the sport’s future broadcast rights agreements, emphasizing the necessity of industry-wide unity over the next decade. During this meeting, Herbst provided Phelps with real-time updates via text messages, and it was within these communications that Phelps repeatedly launched personal attacks against Childress.
The animosity appears to stem from public comments made by Childress on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio earlier that year. In those remarks, Childress voiced concerns about the state of the charter negotiations, notably questioning the financial viability of the new Next Gen car by stating he could build 14 older Gen6 cars for the cost of seven Next Gen models. When pressed about the potential benefits of an upcoming TV deal, his retort, "for who?" reportedly irked NASCAR leadership.
The unsealed texts reveal Phelps’ visceral reaction to Childress’s sentiments. In one message, Phelps declared, "Childress is an idiot. If they don’t like the state of the sport, sell your charter and get out." This sentiment was reiterated shortly after, with Phelps texting, "Did I mention Childress was an idiot?"
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The vitriol escalated further in subsequent messages. Phelps characterized Childress as a "dinosaur" and a "malcontent," suggesting that if Childress was indeed as angry as he appeared, he should "sign your charter extension and sell." Phelps also offensively stated, "He’s not smart, is a dinosaur, and a malcontent. He’s worth a couple hundred million dollars – every dollar associated with nascar in some fashion. Total ass-clown." The most inflammatory comment attributed to Phelps in the unsealed documents was, "Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged. He’s a stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to nascar."
These remarks paint a stark picture of the internal dynamics within NASCAR leadership and their perception of key figures within the ownership ranks. Richard Childress, a towering figure in NASCAR history, has been a team owner for over five decades. His Richard Childress Racing (RCR) team boasts an impressive legacy, including seven Cup Series championships with drivers like Dale Earnhardt Sr., and numerous other victories across various NASCAR series. Childress himself is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, inducted in 2017, a testament to his significant contributions and impact on the sport. RCR currently fields the No. 3 Chevrolet for Austin Dillon and the No. 8 Chevrolet for Kyle Busch in the Cup Series. Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, joined RCR in 2023, marking a significant shift for the organization.
The antitrust lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that NASCAR’s charter system constitutes an illegal monopoly. The charter system, introduced in 2016, guarantees certain benefits to participating teams, including entry into races and a share of media revenue. However, it also restricts the number of charters, effectively limiting the number of full-time teams. 23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, led by Bob Jenkins, contend that this system stifles competition and limits their ability to operate and grow independently.
The unsealed text messages are likely to become a significant piece of evidence in the legal battle, potentially highlighting the adversarial relationship between NASCAR’s leadership and certain team owners. The aggressive and unprofessional language used by Phelps, as revealed in these communications, could be interpreted by the court as indicative of NASCAR’s alleged monopolistic practices and its attempts to control the sport’s landscape.
The timing of these revelations is particularly sensitive, as NASCAR is in the midst of negotiating new, lucrative television contracts, which are crucial for the financial health of the sport and its stakeholders. The revelation of such internal discord and personal animosity among its top leadership, especially directed at a respected veteran owner, could have broader implications for NASCAR’s image and its relationships with its partners and fanbase.
While NASCAR has not yet officially commented on the unsealed text messages, the contents provide a window into the intense negotiations and the high stakes involved in the sport’s business operations. The legal proceedings are expected to continue, and the impact of these unsealed communications on the outcome of the antitrust lawsuit remains to be seen. The narrative of the sport, often built on camaraderie and respect, has been further complicated by these revelations, underscoring the complex business realities that underpin the world of professional stock car racing.
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