Leaked text messages from 2023 have shaken the NASCAR community and added new pressure to ongoing fights over the sport’s charter system. The messages show NASCAR President Steve Phelps using harsh insults toward longtime team owner Richard Childress during a period of heavy disagreement.
Although the texts were too inflammatory for the jury, they entered the public record through court exhibits tied to the antitrust lawsuit involving 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
In an exhibit of texts that the jury won’t get to see because would be used more as inflammatory are some texts showing Steve Phelps frustration over things Richard Childress said in August 2023. Texts are to VP Brian Herbst during/following a meeting (believe with some teams): pic.twitter.com/wWx6mAVuxY
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 22, 2025
Fans, teams, and insiders reacted quickly once the messages surfaced. With the lawsuit already drawing national attention, the release of these texts has raised new questions about leadership, communication, and how deep the tension runs inside the sport’s highest offices.
What the Leaked Messages Reveal About the NASCAR President
The texts, dated August 2023, were sent from Phelps to NASCAR Vice President Brian Herbst after Childress criticized NASCAR’s handling of charter talks. Childress had compared the organization to the “KGB” and accused it of operating in a secretive way during the process. In response, he wrote: “He’s a st*p*d redneck who owes his entire fortune to nascar. … Ungrateful dinosaur. … Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
The messages appeared in the lawsuit from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, which argues that NASCAR’s charter model limits fair competition by controlling how teams enter the Cup Series and share revenue.
NASCAR has countersued, saying the teams worked together to force new terms. The leaked texts also follow earlier messages where Phelps wrote “F*** the teams,” adding more attention to the ongoing dispute.
Reactions from observers came fast. Nathan, a fan reacting on social media, said: “Also, I’ve got to imagine that, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, these texts that are coming out will create a huge shakeup in the upper levels of the sport, right? Surely teams won’t be happy to see how the executives talk about them within their inner circles.”
Childress’s Position and Larger Tensions
Richard Childress is one of the most established team owners in the series. His organization, Richard Childress Racing, has fielded drivers like Dale Earnhardt and Kyle Busch and has been part of the sport for decades. Childress has pushed for more open communication and a more even revenue split under the charter system. While he did not publicly respond to Phelps’s insults, he recently supported the teams involved in the lawsuit for speaking up about their concerns.
Austin Konenski, a writer for MotorsportsWire and USA Today Sports, reacted to the leak by saying, “It may not mean anything toward the trial in December; however, you can’t say this about a current NASCAR owner and expect everything to be OK. The messages out of both sides are ugly, but this is just absurd. It can’t be brushed under the rug and made like nothing happened…”
Public Reaction and What Comes Next
Fan discussions across social media show frustration with how the sport’s leadership handled the situation. Many pointed to the growing gap between executives and team owners.
In a court hearing on October 24, 2025, lawyers continued to argue over the charter system. Joe Gibbs, who signed the new charter agreement, submitted a letter asking the court to push for a resolution before the sport faces more strain.
With the lawsuit possibly moving toward trial in 2026, the leaked texts highlight how serious the conflict has become and how much is at stake for NASCAR’s future.
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