Overview
- Richard Childress Racing called the messages "insensitive and defamatory" and said it is consulting counsel about possible legal claims.
- The court-released texts attribute to NASCAR executive Steve Phelps comments calling Richard Childress a "stupid redneck" who "needs to be taken out back and flogged."
- Another message complained teams were "short sighted and self serving" and told dissatisfied owners to "sell your charter and get out."
- Reports link the exchange to Childress’s August 2023 SiriusXM interview criticizing Next Gen car costs and the media-rights agreement.
- The disclosures came from discovery in 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ antitrust suit against NASCAR, with the trial scheduled for Dec. 1.