Following Steve Phelps’s abrupt departure as NASCAR Commissioner in the wake of text message leaks during the antitrust trial, questions about leadership and the future direction of the organization have intensified. Kyle Busch has weighed in with his candid NASCAR leadership opinion, proposing an unexpected candidate for the sport’s highest post.
Phelps’s Exit and NASCAR’s Immediate Response
The fallout from the leaked messages, which led to embarrassment for NASCAR and tensions among team owners, fans, and sponsors like Bass Pro Shops, set off a wave of concern across the sport. To address this, NASCAR initiated a series of rapid changes, settling legal disputes, gathering input from its fan base to improve the competition format, increasing horsepower in race cars, and ultimately deciding to part ways with Phelps. The organization quickly shifted into a crisis management stance to regain stability after a tumultuous period.
Stakeholder Views on Steve Phelps’s Tenure
Phelps was widely seen as a central figure who managed complex relationships between NASCAR’s many stakeholders. His role required constant communication with car manufacturers, internal league officials, teams, owners, television partners, and business interests regarding media rights. Many believed he was adept at keeping these groups working together smoothly, earning respect for his charismatic leadership style. However, despite these acknowledged strengths, some, such as Kenny Wallace, claimed his exit was necessary in light of recent controversies, pointing to high-profile disputes and the damaging antitrust lawsuit.
Kyle Busch Analyzes the Leadership Void
When asked for his view on NASCAR’s leadership situation, Kyle Busch focused less on the controversy and more on what makes for effective stewardship. He began by openly admitting,
“I mean, I don’t know the ins and outs of all of what Phelps did,”
—Kyle Busch, driver. Busch continued, emphasizing the broad range of responsibilities Phelps shouldered:
“But just through some of the rumblings: His ability to be able to talk amongst all of the key partners, right the OEMs and the league personnel below him, then of course the teams and owners, things like that, TV people radio handling businesses getting media rights things that he did,”
—Kyle Busch, driver.
Busch summed up his perspective by noting Phelps’s particular skill set in managing dialogue across the racing ecosystem and acknowledged how difficult it would be to find a similar replacement.
Busch Suggests Mike Helton as an Ideal Successor
Pivoting from debate to solution, Busch unexpectedly put forward Mike Helton’s name for the top job, saying,
“I’d put [Mike] Helton back in if it were me.”
—Kyle Busch, driver. Helton, who led NASCAR as President from 2000 to 2015 and now serves as Vice Chairman, has a long record of guiding the sport through growth and challenges. Busch’s endorsement signals confidence in returning to experienced leadership during a period of flux.
Current Leadership Arrangements and Perspectives
While NASCAR decides on a permanent Commissioner, Steve O’Donnell, the current President, has assumed the role’s day-to-day duties. Busch expressed no hesitancy regarding O’Donnell’s interim leadership and trusts him to handle responsibilities capably for now. Still, Busch underscored the formidable scope of the position, describing it as “significant shoes to fill,” and acknowledged only time would tell if O’Donnell would ultimately be named as the long-term leader.
Industry Reaction: Divided Opinions on Phelps’s Legacy
Within the paddock, opinions on Phelps remain divided. Some, like Jeff Gordon, the Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, recognized Phelps as a practical problem solver, highlighting his ability to link together teams, manufacturers, media outlets, and league executives, especially during tough negotiations over team charters. That said, the circumstances of his exit have left lingering uncertainty among owners and stakeholders about the future leadership model NASCAR will embrace.
Looking Ahead for NASCAR
The drama surrounding Phelps’s exit and the ongoing leadership debate is set against the backdrop of evolving competition formats, technical changes, and wider questions about governance. As fans, team owners such as Richard Childress, and industry figures like Kenny Wallace and Jeff Gordon remain engaged, NASCAR’s next leadership move will substantially shape its path forward—whether through a trusted executive like Mike Helton or another rising figure within the sport.
.@KyleBusch gave his thoughts on NASCAR’s new/old format, testing at @NWBSpeedway, and his friendship with Greg Biffle.
“Any crashes will kill your championship run”#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/HGlnHnAQOh
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) January 13, 2026
