Steve Phelps may be gone as NASCAR Commissioner, but the conversations around his sudden departure seem to be here to stay. The industry opinion has varied across the board, with some calling the departure the right move, while many feel that Phelps was made the scapegoat for the shortcomings of the NASCAR ownership.
While several insiders have had their say on the matter, the most recent opinions on the move have come from several executives within the sport.
NASCAR Executives Share Their Honest Take on Steve Phelps Stepping Away As Commissioner
NASCAR has made it clear that no replacement will be announced for the outgoing Phelps and that Steve O’Donnell will be taking over the reins. O’Donnell had already assumed the day-to-day responsibilities of the sport, and with Phelps’ departure, he will only see an increase in his duties.
Notably, with Jim France and Lesa France Kennedy keeping a low profile, O’Donnell will also be taking on a more hands-on role in front of the public eye, given it was Phelps who largely took on that responsibility until 2025.
However, as things stand, Phelps continues to be the talk of the town owing to his resignation, and the top executives from different NASCAR teams have had their say on the move (via Sports Business Journal).
Starting things off was Ramsey Poston, a former NASCAR communications strategist who helped guide the sport in 2001 following Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s demise. He wrote that “Healing starts with trust: Leadership needs a real reset — consistent dialogue, clear timelines and fewer public knife fights,” per Poston.
He added that a bold and tangible teams-and-sanctioning body agreement is needed to deliver real stability to NASCAR before the sport moves on to prioritize a fan-focused mindset.
Joe Gibbs Racing President Dave Alpern wrote an email to SBJ, detailing his team’s focus and excitement “about what is really a new chapter for our sport.” He added that a big focus should be put on fan experience alongside the racing, track, and broadcast experience.”
Moving on, Alpern hopes that the teams can work together to improve the overall NASCAR experience.
Meanwhile, RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski is of the opinion that the sport needs to embrace that it is operating at its peak with 36 events, and it is time to prioritize a competitive balance between teams and new carmakers.
Several other executives also took the time to speak to SBJ about what needs to be done, and the theme remained the same across the board. A change is needed, and it is needed in the form of an improved fan experience.
With Phelps gone, it is now time for NASCAR to further show that they care about what the fans have to say, and the upcoming championship format reveal will be their first big challenge in proving the same.