Overview
- Johnny Morris published a multi-page letter condemning Steve Phelps for “shockingly offensive” comments about Richard Childress revealed in discovery.
- The disclosed texts quote Phelps calling Childress “an idiot,” “a dinosaur,” “a stupid redneck,” and saying he “needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
- Morris, whose company sponsors Richard Childress Racing and other teams, suggested such conduct could cost a commissioner his job.
- Richard Childress and his team have signaled potential legal action over what they called insensitive and defamatory remarks, with Childress having recently testified in the ongoing lawsuit.
- The messages, exchanged with NASCAR media executive Brian Herbst, are now part of the 23XI/Front Row charter antitrust case, intensifying scrutiny of NASCAR’s governance and rule enforcement.