Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris has sharply criticized NASCAR president Steve Phelps following remarks directed at long-time racing figure Richard Childress, bringing heightened attention to the ongoing Richard Childress NASCAR controversy. The comments surfaced amid a legal dispute, raising concerns within the motorsports community about respect and leadership in the sport.
Johnny Morris Condemns NASCAR Leadership over Comments
The controversy ignited when Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, voiced his disapproval of comments by NASCAR’s president Steve Phelps. Morris was responding to remarks made public during discovery in a lawsuit involving 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR’s governing body. During the process, documents revealed that Phelps had referred to Richard Childress—a pivotal team owner and long-time NASCAR figure—as an “idiot” and a “stupid redneck.” Morris found these insults highly objectionable given Childress’ longstanding role.
Morris emphasized the far-reaching implications of such derogatory statements for Childress’ legacy and for NASCAR’s community at large. He stated:
“We are extremely upset by the recent disclosure of shockingly offensive and false criticisms of Richard by the Commissioner of NASCAR Steve Phelps. For the Commissioner and his allies, to attack one of the pillars of the sport is incredibly irresponsible and a disservice to everyone involved in NASCAR and its partners, sponsors and fans.”
Morris drew an analogy to other major sports, noting that leaders should honor their legendary members rather than disrespect them, using Major League Baseball as a reference point. He also made a pointed appeal for the France family, noted for its foundational role in NASCAR, to intervene and help repair the situation.
Decades-Long Sponsorship Between Bass Pro Shops and Childress
Bass Pro Shops has been a prominent sponsor in the NASCAR world for years, supporting Richard Childress Racing and its entries in top-level stock car events. That relationship has continued, with the brand currently backing Austin Dillon’s #3 Chevy Camaro ZL1 in the Cup Series, demonstrating the enduring link between the organizations.
Childress’ Support for the NASCAR Charter System Amid Lawsuit
Amid the legal turbulence, Richard Childress made his stance clear in October 2025 by coming out in support of the NASCAR charter system. His comments, shared by racing analyst Bob Pockrass, reflected on the importance of structure and stability for racing teams.
Childress explained that the charter agreement assures charter-holding teams a place in Cup Series events each season, and warned that removing the system could cause uncertainty among both teams and sponsors. He stated:
“As a team owner for many decades, I believe in the concept of NASCAR’s Charter system. Given the challenging business model and economics that Cup Series team owners face, charters are essential to creating enterprise value for teams. The charter system has helped create long-term equity value and has allowed for team equity value to grow.”
“Without Charters, the team ownership model is unsustainable. That is why I remain committed to finding a mutually agreeable solution that will provide permanent charters to all charter holders,” he added.
The charter system was first introduced in 2016 and remained unchanged until developments in 2025, when the governing body altered the distribution of prize money and publicly announced adjustments. Further, NASCAR incorporated two additional off weeks for drivers for the 2026 regular season to address evolving needs within the sport.
Broader Impacts and What’s at Stake Moving Forward
This series of events has intensified debate about leadership, governance, and respect in NASCAR. The high-profile expressions of discontent—including Morris’s statements and Childress’s defense of the charter framework—underscore the stakes for team owners, sponsors like Bass Pro Shops, and the broader NASCAR community. The situation continues to unfold, with attention focused on how NASCAR’s leadership and longstanding figures will resolve their differences, and what changes or interventions the France family might consider to stabilize the sport’s reputation and relationships.
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
