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A trove of unsealed documents, made public on Friday as part of the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, has illuminated the internal discussions and stark sentiments within the sanctioning body regarding the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). The revelations, ahead of the trial scheduled to commence on December 1, include candid communications that portray NASCAR leadership, including then-President Steve Phelps, as deeply concerned and hostile towards SRX, particularly when prominent NASCAR figures participated in the rival series.
One particularly striking exchange, dated June 29, 2022, features then-NASCAR Commissioner and President Steve Phelps communicating with then-President and Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell. Upon learning that Denny Hamlin, a prominent Cup Series driver and team owner, had agreed to compete in the SRX season opener, Phelps expressed extreme dissatisfaction. In a series of messages, Phelps stated, "Oh great, another owner racing in SRX." O’Donnell responded, asserting, "This is NASCAR. Pure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this." Phelps then escalated his rhetoric, declaring, "These guys are just plain stupid. Need to put a knife in this trash series."
At the time of these communications, the Superstar Racing Experience was gearing up for its third season. This particular season marked a significant shift for SRX, as it transitioned to ESPN for its broadcast rights, moving from its previous Saturday night slot on CBS to Thursday nights. This scheduling change was perceived by NASCAR leadership as strategically advantageous for SRX, potentially allowing for greater participation from active Cup Series drivers, thereby increasing the series’ visibility and appeal.
The SRX series was co-founded by a quartet of influential figures in motorsports: Tony Stewart, a NASCAR Hall of Famer and three-time Cup Series champion; Ray Evernham, a championship-winning crew chief and team owner; George Pyne, a former NASCAR executive; and Sandy Montag, a sports media executive. Evernham departed the SRX ownership group after its inaugural 2021 season. Donald Hawk joined the organization as CEO for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
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The insinuation behind Phelps’s aggressive language and O’Donnell’s call for legal action appears to be rooted in a perceived infringement on NASCAR’s intellectual property and its market dominance. The participation of active Cup Series drivers in SRX was seen as a direct challenge, potentially diverting attention, sponsorship, and ultimately, fan engagement away from NASCAR’s core series.
This sentiment was not isolated to the Hamlin incident. Earlier that summer, Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks also participated in an SRX event at Stafford Motor Speedway. This participation similarly triggered alarm bells within NASCAR’s executive ranks, underscoring a growing concern about a rival series operating within the nationally televised stock car racing landscape.
The unsealed documents also reveal further internal discussions from the same period, June 29, 2022, which provide critical context. These exchanges occurred amidst the burgeoning charter negotiations, a contentious period where team owners were seeking greater financial stability and control over their participation in NASCAR. Concurrently, the landscape of independent racing was evolving, notably with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Justin Marks’ eventual purchase of the CARS Tour.
In one lengthy exchange, O’Donnell questioned Marks’s SRX involvement, stating, "Justin Marks is racing SRX?" Ben Kennedy, a NASCAR executive, responded with disappointment, "Saw that too. Disappointing." An unidentified individual expressed frustration, suggesting a lack of understanding from drivers and owners: "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."
The unidentified individual further elaborated on the perceived disconnect, highlighting the caliber of participants: "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." This observation underscores the growing threat SRX posed, not just as a niche series, but as a competitor capable of drawing significant viewership.
O’Donnell’s response painted a broader picture of what he viewed as a transactional and often ungrateful approach from drivers and team owners, seemingly disregarding their NASCAR careers for personal gain. He noted the diverse backgrounds of SRX participants: "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." He pointedly referenced a driver’s past safety concerns contrasted with their participation in SRX, which featured cars without SAFER barriers.
O’Donnell also alluded to potential strategic maneuvers by SRX and its allies, noting the presence of ESPN’s Marty Smith with 23XI co-owner Curtis Polk. He expressed concern about Dale Earnhardt Jr. potentially participating in SRX, fearing a scenario where "They will go to North Wilkesboro with Jr. if we are not careful. We need to be the first back." This indicates a strategic battle for influence and control over key racing venues and driver participation.
The discussions then turned to concrete countermeasures. The unidentified individual agreed with O’Donnell’s sentiment, suggesting, "North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray next year with Jr and friends if we don’t make moves." O’Donnell proposed a direct counter-programming strategy: "How about this for All Star – make it a combo – Bowman and Wilkes Fri/Sun." This proposal suggests NASCAR’s intention to leverage its own events and venues to preempt SRX’s potential plans.
Phelps, in a subsequent message, articulated the overarching strategic imperative, likening the situation to the burgeoning threat of LIV Golf. "That’s the key – we need to have everyone understand that this could turn into LIV if we don’t play our cards right," he stated. He believed NASCAR possessed superior intellect but acknowledged a communication gap: "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." He reiterated his bewilderment at SRX’s actions, concluding, "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 competitive maneuvering foreshadowed in these communications did indeed play out. The CARS Tour, in conjunction with XR and Speedway Motorsports, 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 racing lease for Bowman Gray Stadium, announcing its return for The Clash in 2025 and extending its presence through 2026.
The Superstar Racing Experience ultimately did not hold a fourth season in 2024. The series’ physical assets were reportedly sold to GMS Race Cars in 2025, signaling the end of its on-track operations. The unsealed documents provide a revealing glimpse into the internal pressures and strategic considerations that shaped NASCAR’s response to emerging competition during a critical period of industry-wide negotiation and transformation.
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