Steve Phelps to step down as Nascar commissioner

• No immediate plans to seek a successor as commissioner
• Responsibilities will be delegated among Nascar’s president and executive leadership team

Steve Phelps will step down as commissioner of Nascar by the end of the month.

A statement from the series said that the 63-year-old made a ‘personal decision’ to step away, with the move coming less than one month after the conclusion of Nascar’s long-running legal battle with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM).

Phelps, who has been with Nascar since 2005, was appointed as the series’ first-ever commissioner in April 2025. There are no immediate plans to appoint a successor. 

“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,” said Phelps.

“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 honour to help synthesise 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.”

Nascar has not announced any further leadership changes, with Phelps’ responsibilities to be delegated internally through the president and wider executive leadership team.

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“Steve will forever be remembered as one of Nascar’s most impactful leaders,” said Nascar chairman and chief executive Jim France.

“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 honour 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.”

“Over his two decades at Nascar, Steve has balanced strong leadership and a consistent pursuit of excellence with a sincere commitment to our fans,” said Nascar executive vice chair Lesa France Kennedy.

“He has helped to bring fans some of the best, most unforgettable moments in our history, and most importantly, he’s laid an incredible foundation for continued growth and success for the entire sport.

“A true consensus builder and passionate advocate, we thank Steve for bringing his intelligence, integrity and love of racing to this sport each and every day. While his career may take him elsewhere, he’ll always have a place in our Nascar family.”

BlackBook says…

Phelps steps down as Nascar commissioner following the conclusion of the bruising legal proceedings with 23XI and FRM. During the process of finalising the wider settlement eventually agreed with the two teams, a series of inflammatory texts attributed to Phelps were revealed, which put him on thin ice and raised concerns about his leadership. In one exchange, he referred to team owner Richard Childress as “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged”.

The announcement exit of Phelps’ exit after the legal battle has been swift. It could also lead to speculation about the future of Nascar president Steve O’Donnell, even if the organisation said it had no immediate plans to make any additional senior leadership changes.

A protracted court case cost Nascar millions of dollars and exposed deep-rooted tensions within the sport. After the exit of Phelps, the series will now be looking to restore some much-needed stability as it adjusts to a new era of permanent charters and greater power amongst the teams.