Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s commissioner, will depart the sport’s sanctioning body at the end of January, NASCAR announced Jan. 6.
“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,” Phelps said in a release. “Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners and the commitment of our wonderful employees. It has been an honor to help synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators and incredible racing talent.
“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.”
Phelps joined NASCAR in 2005 as a vp of corporate marketing, coming from Wasserman Media Group and previously the NFL. He received multiple promotions over his two-decade career with NASCAR that saw him become its COO in 2018, followed by its president later that year.
Last March, Phelps became NASCAR’s first commissioner.
“Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders,” NASCAR chairman/CEO Jim France said. “For decades, he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams, and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history. It’s been an honor to work alongside him in achieving the impossible, like being the first sport to return during COVID, or in delivering the unimaginable by launching new races in the LA Memorial Coliseum and NASCAR’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago.
“Steve leaves NASCAR with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset.”
According to the NASCAR release, it does not currently plan to seek a replacement for Phelps, nor has Phelps revealed his post-racing plans.
Phelps’ departure comes a month removed from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, during which Phelps, among many others within the sport’s top brass, took the witness stand to be examined. Both sides eventually settled.
Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.
At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
Good riddance.
Bring in a racer / fan with a business aptitude. Tony Stewart? Kevin Harvick?
Not surprised he’s leaving. He screwed up big time and publicly.
they need to bring in someone who knows racing and could connect with the fans as well as drivers and owners. Someone like Tony Stewart Mark Martin Kevin Harvick or Ray Evernham
The “commissioner” position will not be filled. They wanted to be like stick and ball teams and ended up with the WWE.
Steve
How about Mark Martin for the job, he would be great man for the job that the drivers would respect
NA$CAR will bring in someone who only makes $en$e to NA$CAR and will keep the money tree alive and growing, just like the commissioners in the NFL, NHL and MLB.
Dale Jr would be the best choice for this position.
If NASCAR ownership would actually let someone run the business for them, I’d agree, but only if Kelly Earnhardt was named to co-helm the show with Junior.
Junior has repeatedly stated he’s the dreamer in all his sports ventures, but Kelly is the one who makes it all work, both logistically and financially. They make a remarkably capable team.
That said, I can’t fathom NASCAR ownership actually giving anyone autonomy to fix the problems within the sport. The hubris is strong within the France family.
A team owner won’t be Commissioner.
That’s a good start. Jim France needs to cash out and go with him.
In the immortal words of Curly Bill Brocius from Tombstone:
“Well…bye.”
This was obviously coming. Near zero chance anyone with skill will replace him. NASCAR’s problems stem from ownership, and the France family is going nowhere.
When I read the headline, that line popped into my head too!
One of my all time favorites! That movie has the highest concentration of quality one liners I’ve ever come across, and a great story, though not particularly true to historical events.
Wow, now the poor owners and drivers have to worship someone else. I hope crisis counselors are brought in to help them through this tough time. Or, they could all get off of their knees and maybe, just maybe realize that fans don’t watch races and buy merchandise for the NASCAR execs, they want to see the actual races and support their favorite drivers.
What an eloquent load of meaningless horse crap.