Brad Keselowski has shared his perspective on the recent changes in NASCAR leadership, which saw Steve Phelps step down from his role as commissioner after more than a decade. The shift has prompted reflection from drivers and team owners across the sport, bringing the focus keyword—Brad Keselowski on NASCAR leadership—to the forefront of NASCAR’s ongoing evolution.
Keselowski and Peers Respond to Phelps’s Departure
Jeff Gordon, now in an executive position at Hendrick Motorsports, has a keen understanding of what high-level responsibility within NASCAR entails. This awareness no doubt shaped his measured remarks regarding Steve Phelps’s exit. The impacts of Phelps’s departure have extended well beyond executives, resonating throughout the garage and affecting notable figures such as Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski.
During his years as NASCAR commissioner, Phelps was known for his visible presence on pit road before every race, greeting each driver and serving as a conduit between teams and the larger organization. Brad Keselowski, who now serves as co-owner of RFK Racing, was among the leading voices reflecting on Phelps’s leadership and the effect his absence will have.
“Steve has been a big part of a number of key initiatives for sport for the last dozen plus years, as I recall. I’ve enjoyed a great personal relationship with him. The sport’s going to miss him. Like anybody in that position, you’re not going to bat 100 percent, and I think there’s been some wins and losses. But as a whole, I appreciate what he’s brought to our sport. And I’m kind of sad to see him go, but life has its changes,”
detailed the RFK Racing co-owner.
Keselowski’s comments underline not only the accomplishments achieved during Phelps’s tenure, but also acknowledge the challenges that marked his time leading the organization.
Behind the Scenes: The Factors Leading to the Change
As the reasons for the leadership shake-up continue to unfold, the narrative centers around a chain of events that followed the release of objectionable text messages during a high-profile antitrust lawsuit. These texts, which generated public controversy and cast uncertainty on Phelps’s position, ultimately put the organization in a precarious situation.
Kenny Wallace, a respected figure in NASCAR circles, indicated that prominent sponsor Bass Pro Shops—and specifically its owner, Johnny Morris—delivered a strong public rebuke after remarks from Phelps concerning Richard Childress became public. With one of the most influential and wealthy backers opting to take a stand, NASCAR’s leadership found itself unable to risk ongoing friction by retaining Phelps, thus prompting a decisive move to preserve the sport’s business interests.
Assessing Phelps’s Legacy and Next Steps for NASCAR
Steve Phelps earned widespread recognition for keeping NASCAR stable through uncertain periods, such as the pandemic, and for initiating key developments over two decades with the organization. However, with reputational harm looming and the risk of alienating significant sponsors, executives determined that his continued presence posed greater risks than potential benefits.
By making a difficult choice to end Phelps’s leadership, NASCAR aimed to prevent broader rifts that might affect relationships with team owners and sponsors—critical players in the sport’s ecosystem. Though Phelps’s exit will not solve all of the challenges currently facing NASCAR, it helps avoid a looming conflict that could have had lasting financial and competitive consequences.
As NASCAR enters a new phase without Steve Phelps at the helm, the organization, along with key figures like Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, and Brad Keselowski, will look to navigate a complex landscape marked by changing partnerships and evolving expectations from sponsors and teams alike. The decision to move on signals the beginning of another chapter, with all eyes on how leadership will respond to the pressures and opportunities ahead.
Brad Keselowski on the resignation of NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps and the new charter terms (which are still being finalized with the teams). @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/3K0UvGxUu6
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 9, 2026
