Veteran driver Brad Keselowski has spoken candidly about the departure of Steve Phelps as NASCAR commissioner, describing the change as significant for both himself and the entire sport. The comments highlight how Phelps’s resignation, which followed the recent antitrust lawsuit controversy, marks a major shift in NASCAR’s leadership and has already left a noticeable impact in the garage.
KeseIowski and Other Drivers React to the Departure
Steve Phelps’s daily presence at races was characterized by a personal approach—he was a familiar figure working pit road, greeting drivers like Denny Hamlin and co-owner Brad Keselowski. This visible connection made him a unique bridge between NASCAR’s leadership and its teams. Keselowski, who now serves in an executive role at RFK Racing, reflected on the former commissioner’s influence and the relationship they shared, while also acknowledging both achievements and difficulties during Phelps’s tenure. His comments made it clear that the outgoing commissioner leaves big shoes to fill.
“Steve has been a big part of a number of key initiatives for sport for the last dozen plus years, as I recall. I’ve enjoyed a great personal relationship with him. The sport’s going to miss him. Like anybody in that position, you’re not going to bat 100 percent, and I think there’s been some wins and losses. But as a whole, I appreciate what he’s brought to our sport. And I’m kind of sad to see him go, but life has its changes,”
detailed the RFK Racing co-owner.
The sense of loss goes beyond Keselowski’s personal experience—many drivers and team members were accustomed to Phelps’s involvement at the heart of race day operations. He became an essential part of race weekends, and his absence signals a notable change for NASCAR’s atmosphere moving forward.
Tension with Key Sponsors Influences Decision
The circumstances that led to Phelps’s resignation extend well beyond the typical challenges associated with leadership. According to Kenny Wallace, the turning point came after Johnny Morris, owner of major sponsor Bass Pro Shops, publicly criticized Phelps’s remarks about Richard Childress. The public rebuke forced NASCAR into a dilemma—choosing between retaining their commissioner or risking a breach with a powerful backer.
The influence of sponsors like Bass Pro Shops on the sport cannot be understated. With so much financial investment tied to relationships between teams, sponsors, and NASCAR officials, satisfying key figures like Morris became a necessity. Faced with the potential fallout, the organization saw Phelps’s continuation as an untenable liability, especially after his insensitive text messages were made public during the antitrust case. NASCAR’s decision to part ways became less a personal critique and more a move to protect relationships fundamental to the series’ sustainability.
Legacy of a Commissioner Amid Difficulties
Steve Phelps’s two decades within NASCAR included steering the sport through difficult periods, notably the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. He is recognized for keeping the organization unified when disruption threatened its stability. However, the controversies surrounding his final days in office, and the wider implications for team owners and sponsors, led the organization to prioritize future harmony over loyalty to a long-serving figure.
Choosing to move on from Phelps does not erase his accomplishments, but it does close a turbulent chapter. For NASCAR, letting him go eliminated a focal point of conflict that was threatening to escalate, particularly with sponsors. The succession decision underscores how the business realities and interpersonal dynamics of top-level motorsport governance often converge, shaping outcomes beyond just racing performance.
What Comes Next for NASCAR?
NASCAR now faces the challenge of bridging the gap Phelps leaves behind. While his departure addresses one source of recent unrest, other broader issues remain for the series, including maintaining sponsor alliances, managing team concerns, and nurturing trust between leadership and competitors. The next commissioner will inherit both the results of Phelps’s work and the responsibility to steer the sport through a period of recalibration. For drivers like Brad Keselowski and teams across the paddock, adapting to a new era of organizational leadership is both a challenge and an opportunity for renewed unity in NASCAR’s evolving landscape.
Brad Keselowski on the resignation of NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps and the new charter terms (which are still being finalized with the teams). @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/3K0UvGxUu6
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 9, 2026
