A storm is building in the NASCAR world, and this is all happening off the racetrack as Richard Childress Racing (RCR) sent out a strong and emotional statement on Monday after leaked text messages from high-ranking NASCAR executives made insulting remarks about their legendary owner, Richard Childress.
The messages were released publicly as part of the ongoing lawsuit between NASCAR and race teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, and it feels outrageous because Childress has been part of the sport for decades. The comments that came out in these leaked texts were very personal.
Richard Childress’s Role in NASCAR
Childress is one of the most influential names in NASCAR history and has built a NASCAR empire from the ground up, and he even once drove in the Cup Series himself. His greatest era came with Dale Earnhardt, when they won six championships together. Hence, he is a Hall of Famer and one of the most respected names in the garage.
That history is part of why these leaked texts hit fans of the sport so hard, as in the unsealed messages, NASCAR president Steve Phelps called Childress an “idiot” and even said that he “needs to be taken out back and flogged.” The texts also called Childress a “stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to NASCAR,” along with more insults, including calling him a “dinosaur” and a “malcontent.”
The messages were exchanged between Phelps and NASCAR’s chief media and revenue officer, Brian Herbst. Herbst liked and endorsed the comments, and according to reports, the remarks were made after Childress made comments in 2023 criticizing NASCAR’s charter negotiations and comparing costs between the Next Gen and Gen-6 cars.
A Legal Fight Between RCR and NASCAR on the Horizon
The leaked messages surfaced during the discovery phase of the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, which alleges the sanctioning body of running the sport in a monopoly-like manner, especially regarding the charter system and its financial structure. The trial is scheduled to begin on December 1 in Charlotte after multiple failed attempts to settle.
RCR’s statement expressed disappointment not only for the insults directed at Childress but also for the way it suggests NASCAR leadership has treated long-time team owners. The statement added that no further comments will be made because legal action is currently being considered with counsel.
The statement read, “RCR and Richard Childress are deeply disappointed by the insensitive and defamatory statements made about Mr. Childress in recently surfaced text messages between NASCAR executives Steve Phelps and Brian Herbst.… RCR and Richard Childress are equally disappointed for the NASCAR fans, with whom Mr. Childress closely identifies given his humble and hard-working background.”
“Mr. Childress and the organization will issue no further statements regarding these or other defamatory text messages that have recently surfaced, as legal action is being contemplated and discussed with legal counsel,” the statement continued.
There is more history behind the tension, as this past season, RCR drivers Austin Dillon and Austin Hill both received major penalties. Dillon had his playoff bid removed after he crashed with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano for the win at Richmond, and Hill was stripped of playoff points for a right rear hook on Aric Almirola.
Meanwhile, NASCAR officials have privately said that Phelps contacted Childress ahead of time to warn him that the messages would soon be made public, but what was discussed in that call has not been revealed.
This legal battle has dragged other major team owners into the mix, too, and Judge Kenneth Bell also recently ruled that Roger Penske and Rick Hendrick must make themselves available for depositions, regardless of the size and reputation of their organizations.
With trial day approaching and the leaked messages going viral, the fight between NASCAR executives and its teams has gotten messy and is now on full display for fans to judge.
