NASCAR commissioner steps down following Michael Jordan's antitrust suit, backlash over hateful texts

NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps announced Tuesday helium would measurement down from his station successful the aftermath of 2 racing teams, including 1 owned by Michael Jordan, filing an antitrust suit against the company.

The suit besides unearthed inflammatory substance messages helium sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations. Jordan's 23XI Racing and NASCAR settled their suit past month.

But the apical enforcement astatine NASCAR was profoundly bruised during the proceedings — and the find process starring into it — erstwhile communications helium exchanged with apical enactment were exposed. In 1 exchange, Phelps called Hall of Fame squad proprietor Richard Childress "a anserine redneck" who "needs to beryllium taken retired backmost and flogged."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks connected during the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 astatine Michigan International Speedway connected Aug. 18, 2024 successful Brooklyn, Michigan.  (Logan Riely/Getty Images)

That led Bass Pro Shops laminitis Johnny Morris, an ardent protagonist of some NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing, to constitute a missive demanding Phelps' removal arsenic commissioner.

"As a lifelong contention fan, it gives maine immense pridefulness to person served arsenic NASCAR's archetypal Commissioner and to pb our large athletics done truthful galore unthinkable challenges, opportunities and firsts implicit my 20 years," Phelps said successful a statement. "Our athletics is built connected the passionateness of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners, and the committedness of our fantastic employees.

"It has been an grant to assistance synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of caller entrants to our ecosystem, specified arsenic media partners, car manufacturers, way operators, and unthinkable racing talent."

Phelps volition permission the institution astatine the extremity of the month, up of the commencement of the season. He was named NASCAR's archetypal commissioner past play aft a courting process for the aforesaid relation by the PGA Tour. The accidental with the PGA was revealed during December grounds successful the trial.

Michael Jordan, center, and Curtis Polk, left, co-owners of 23XI Racing, ticker during qualifying beside 23XI Racing President Steve Lauletta, right, for a NASCAR Cup Series Championship car race, Nov. 9, 2024, successful Avondale, Ariz.  (AP Photo/John Locher, file)

LOOKING BACK AT THE SPORTS GAMBLING CONTROVERSIES THROUGHOUT 2025, WITH NBA AND MLB INVESTIGATIONS LEADING WAY

"Steve volition everlastingly beryllium remembered arsenic 1 of NASCAR's astir impactful leaders," said Jim France, the NASCAR president and CEO. "For decades helium has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, enactment teams and execute a imaginativeness for the athletics that has treated america each to immoderate of the top moments successful our astir 80-year history."

Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing filed their suit past twelvemonth aft refusing to motion agreements connected the caller charter offers NASCAR presented successful September 2024. Teams had until the extremity of the time to motion the 112-page document, which guarantees entree to top-level Cup Series races and a gross stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued alternatively and raced astir of the 2025 play unchartered.

The fiscal presumption of the colony were not disclosed, but an economist earlier testified that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were owed much than $300 cardinal successful damages.

All teams felt the erstwhile revenue-sharing statement was unfair, and much than 2 years of bitter negotiations led to NASCAR’s last offer, which was described by the teams arsenic "take it oregon permission it." The teams believed the caller statement lacked each 4 of their cardinal demands, astir importantly the charters becoming imperishable alternatively of renewable.

Co-owners of 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin, operator of the #11 FedEx One Rate Toyota, and NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan speech connected the grid aft the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 astatine Talladega Superspeedway connected October 06, 2024 successful Talladega, Alabama.  ( Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The colony followed 8 days of grounds during which the Florida-based France family, the founders and backstage owners of NASCAR, were shown to beryllium inflexible successful making the charters permanent.

Fox News' Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.