The ongoing 23XI-FRM Charter Lawsuit has cracked open a new chapter in the Tony Stewart SRX Series controversy, revealing candid internal conversations among NASCAR leadership that expose deep-seated animosity toward Stewart’s independent racing series. As legal battles unfold in court, leaked group chats surfaced online have ignited debate over NASCAR executives’ attitudes towards rival events and prominent figures within the sport.
Private Messages Reveal Tensions Over Rival Racing
In a surprising twist to what was originally a dispute about NASCAR’s monopolistic practices, confidential messages between leaders Steve Phelps, Ben Kennedy, and Steve O’Donnell have come to light. These communications, brought to public attention during the trial set to begin on December 1st, shed a harsh light not only on business dealings but also on interpersonal conflicts regarding Stewart’s SRX Series.
The controversy centers around comments allegedly made by Phelps and O’Donnell. According to the leaked chat transcripts, the officials criticized SRX Series events and targeted Denny Hamlin—co-owner of 23XI Racing and an SRX Series participant—along with others seen as supporting the competing circuit. Their language reflected both personal disdain for Stewart’s initiative and a strategic ambition to undermine it.
“Oh great, another owner racing in SRX. Steve O’Donnell: This is NASCAR. Pure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this. Steve Phelps: These guys are plain stupid. Need to put a knife in this trash Series.
The group chat revealed, via @BobPockrass/X.”
The direct quotes—authentic and attributed—suggest a confrontational stance, with leadership referencing legal action against SRX and explicitly calling for the series to be dismantled. These remarks also imply a belief that loyalty to NASCAR should override any involvement with alternate series, further intensifying internal pressure on drivers and owners considering outside opportunities.
NASCAR Leaders Admit to Strategic Manipulation
Leaked exchanges went beyond public criticism, moving into admissions of calculated strategy behind a seemingly cordial public face. Steve O’Donnell, specifically, discussed the need for ‘smiles all around’ in public relations, while privately orchestrating actions to gain the upper hand over competitors and dissenters alike.
“Lots to get our arms around, but sadly any “goodwill” seems to be lost. So-smiles all around, but behind the scenes we scheme and we win.
Steve O’Donnell added in the groupchat.”
O’Donnell’s message is particularly revealing, showing not just disdain but an organized approach to suppressing independent ventures like the SRX Series. This level of candor has fueled public and industry backlash against the apparent disconnect between NASCAR’s outward messaging and their executives’ true intentions, putting further scrutiny on how leadership manages dissent and competition within motorsports.
SRX Series Growth, Financial Motives, and Internal Friction
Another focal point of the Tony Stewart SRX Series controversy is how NASCAR leadership perceived drivers participating in rival series. O’Donnell’s comments from the leaked conversations show a deep skepticism of loyalty, suggesting that drivers and team owners are willing to switch allegiances for financial reward. This theme emerged as Stewart, along with fellow high-profile figures like Darrell Waltrip, diversified their involvement in motorsport through alternative platforms.
The SRX Series, which at one point saw rapid growth and the participation of well-known drivers, became the subject of frustration as market pressure eventually led to its shutdown. NASCAR executives saw such departures as a betrayal, believing their support had built many racers’ careers and that payment from competitors was enough to undermine long-term loyalties.
“Actually you have one of the voices of Fox in Waltrip, an owner of multiple coo cars in Stewart, our most popular driver for years and one of our champs fathers etc. This is exhibit “a” that nobody gives a s**t about what got them their careers. Pay em some money and they are all in.
Steve O’Donnell said in the groupchat.”
O’Donnell’s frustration over drivers moving between major organizations—such as Tony Stewart’s shifts to NHRA and SRX Series or Darrell Waltrip’s role with FOX—painted a picture of fierce competition not just on the track but also behind the scenes. The implication is that financial incentives hold more sway than tradition or loyalty, a view that many inside and outside the sport find contentious.
Implications for NASCAR’s Future and the Broader Racing Community
This latest episode underscores mounting challenges for NASCAR as it contends with both legal and reputational crises. The charter system, introduced with hopes of modernizing team ownership and business structures, is now under the spotlight for its long-term effects on competition and relationship management. The internal discord exposed by these leaks only amplifies doubts about NASCAR’s ability to foster genuine goodwill among its teams and participants.
For fans and industry insiders invested in the Tony Stewart SRX Series controversy, the revelations suggest a reckoning is underway. As details continue to emerge, the tension between preserving NASCAR’s supremacy and allowing drivers the freedom to explore new opportunities is sure to fuel further debate. The outcome of the charter lawsuit and the reaction to these leaked discussions may determine how the sport evolves in terms of governance, transparency, and athlete relations in the coming years.
And more NASCAR executive (one of the people in the chain is not identified so don’t know who that is) reaction to SRX when they found out Justin Marx was doing it in June 2022 … and how that could have sparked more interest in doing North Wilkesboro: https://t.co/iR2qaoyPEU pic.twitter.com/kISZ8iggEo
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 22, 2025
