The Richard Childress NASCAR controversy intensified this week after Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris made a public statement condemning the remarks and conduct of NASCAR leadership, following leaked text exchanges that revealed derogatory comments about Childress. The comments have heightened the ongoing dispute involving NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, raising new questions about fairness and governance within the sport just as a legal battle continues to unfold.
Bass Pro Shops’ Strong Response to NASCAR Controversy
Tension between Richard Childress and NASCAR leadership reached a breaking point after communications surfaced, showing Commissioner Steve Phelps using disparaging terms like “a stupid redneck” and “dinosaur” to refer to Childress. The outrage following these leaks was magnified when Phelps reportedly suggested that Childress
“needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
The fallout escalated on December 11, 2025, as Johnny Morris, founder of the iconic sporting goods retailer Bass Pro Shops, publicly voiced his support for Childress while condemning the actions of NASCAR’s commissioner and executives.
For decades, Bass Pro Shops maintained a close alliance with Childress, beginning with sponsorship of Dale Earnhardt Sr. during the 1998 All-Star Race. The company has also backed Dale Earnhardt Jr., cementing its presence in NASCAR history. Their first partnership with Childress and Earnhardt remains a milestone, making the current uproar even more significant for longtime fans and insiders.
Johnny Morris issued a statement that read,
“The fact is Richard Childress has done as much to build and promote NASCAR as anyone in the history of the sport! The commissioner, in all his rant, has only managed to bring discredit to himself and the sport,”
—Johnny Morris, Founder, Bass Pro Shops. He went on to add,
“The commissioner’s recently revealed contempt for Richard Childress makes it abundantly clear that he and his lieutenants are not capable of being fair and objective when it comes to impartially enforcing the rules and regulations.”
—Johnny Morris, Founder, Bass Pro Shops. Morris’s statement closed with,
“Such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, keep his or her job for very long!”
—Johnny Morris, Founder, Bass Pro Shops.
With such strong words coming from a respected figure, the controversy has acquired a more personal tone for those who remember the transformative partnerships that shaped modern NASCAR.
Longstanding Partnership and Foundation of the Conflict
The history between Richard Childress and Bass Pro Shops spans nearly three decades, beginning with their alliance alongside Dale Earnhardt Sr., a revered seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. At the 1998 All-Star Race, Earnhardt’s gold No. 3 car showcased the Bass Pro Shops brand on a national stage, highlighting the company’s belief in Childress and his drivers. The sponsorship continued with Dale Earnhardt Jr. during his early career in Late Model racing, further deepening the bond between the company, the team, and the Earnhardt legacy.
This enduring relationship places Bass Pro Shops in a unique position to comment on Childress’s influence and the stakes of the ongoing controversy. The organization no longer sponsors Childress, yet founder Johnny Morris’s recent public defense underscores the depth of their historical ties and the sense of betrayal felt after the commissioner’s remarks became public.
Revelations from Leaked Communications
The current storm was largely triggered by leaked conversations between NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps and Brian Herbst, NASCAR’s Chief Media and Revenue Officer. Among the most inflammatory messages, Phelps used several derogatory names for Childress and explicitly stated that he
“needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
Such language marks a dramatic escalation in the tension between NASCAR’s leadership and one of its long-standing team owners. The public release of these messages compounded concerns about bias and objectivity at the highest levels of the sport.
Johnny Morris, speaking directly to the issue, stated,
“… the commissioner’s recently revealed contempt for Richard Childress makes it abundantly clear that he and his lieutenants are not capable of being fair and objective when it comes to impartially enforcing the rules and regulations…”
—Johnny Morris, Founder, Bass Pro Shops. His appeal concluded by calling for unity within the sport:
“It is painful for all fans to watch the current conflict and division occurring within the sport we love. We hope the France family and team owners will reflect carefully on the damage that’s being done to NASCAR in the ongoing dispute and dig deep and strive hard for a compromise. We’re cheering for a prompt and fair resolution that creates a positive path to a happy and long-term future for the founding family, team owners, and most importantly, the fans.”
—Johnny Morris, Founder, Bass Pro Shops.
Financial Pressures and Off-Track Business Ventures
The controversy surrounding Richard Childress comes amid broader financial challenges affecting team owners across NASCAR. Michael Jordan’s antitrust lawsuit has brought to light the financial strains endured by many participants. Notably, Bob Jenkins has disclosed operating losses of $6.8 million each season. Childress also revealed his intention to sell a 60% stake in Richard Childress Racing, the organization he founded in 1969. However, he pointed to 55 consecutive years of operational profitability, or EBITA, as a testament to his business acumen outside of NASCAR.
Acknowledging the difficulties of team ownership, Childress admitted that if not for his off-track enterprises, he may have faced financial ruin. He holds stakes in ECR Engines—a successful developer and manufacturer of high-performance racing engines—and RCR Manufacturing Solutions, a company producing equipment and vehicles for the military. Both operations are located at the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, North Carolina. Additionally, Childress owns a vineyard in Lexington, further diversifying his holdings and providing crucial support outside the racing sphere.
The Broader Implications for NASCAR’s Future
The public condemnation delivered by Bass Pro Shops has intensified scrutiny of NASCAR’s current leadership, particularly of Commissioner Steve Phelps and his associates. As Bass Pro Shops no longer sponsors Richard Childress, their intervention takes on the tone of both a warning and a plea for integrity in the sport’s governance. The involvement of prominent figures like Johnny Morris signals wider unease in the NASCAR community regarding potential bias, procedural fairness, and the current direction of the sport’s administration.
The outcome of the ongoing lawsuit and broader negotiations, including the France family and major team owners, may determine not only the fate of Richard Childress but also set precedents for transparency, oversight, and collaborative improvement throughout the motorsports industry. While emotions are running high—with ambiguous, complex feelings evident among fans and stakeholders—many will be watching for signs of compromise or reform in the days to come.
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris: “… the commissioner’s recently revealed contempt for Richard Childress makes it abundantly clear that he and his lieutenants are not capable of being fair and objective when it comes to impartially enforcing the rules and regulations…” pic.twitter.com/ThoQ4BfwTx
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 11, 2025
