The fallout from NASCAR’s federal antitrust trial continued into the new year as NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps on Tuesday announced his resignation after more than 20 years with the top racing series in the United States.
His resignation comes after last month’s trial in which inflammatory texts Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed.
Phelps will leave the company at the end of the month, ahead of the start of the first exhibition race of the season on Feb. 1.
He was named NASCAR’s first commissioner last season after a courting process for the same role by the PGA golf tour.
The opportunity with the PGA was revealed during December testimony of the antitrust trial brought by two race teams against NASCAR, and Phelps testified he pulled out of consideration for that role upon the NASCAR promotion from president.
The top executive at NASCAR was deeply bruised during the trial — and the discovery process leading into it — when communications he exchanged with his leadership team were exposed.
In one exchange, Phelps called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress