After being appointed as NASCAR’s new Commissioner, Steve Phelps shared a clear message with the racing community. He believes that NASCAR is at its best when everyone works together as one. Phelps shared his thoughts on “Hauler Talk,” the official podcast of NASCAR. The new Commissioner of NASCAR thinks that if the sport operates more like a league, similar to the National Football League or Major League Baseball, it will benefit everyone involved. Phelps was quoted by Racer.com:
“When we work together like a team, it benefits everyone involved. This isn’t just good for NASCAR as a company, but also for NASCAR as a sport, because we are more powerful when we unite than when we stand alone. To me, this teamwork is the most important part of my job.”
Phelps thinks that NASCAR is at a competitive disadvantage because it doesn’t fully take ownership of itself as an organization. That’s why he is dedicated to bringing the entire sport together to help everyone involved. He also mentioned: “The key focus for us is to keep working together with our industry. Whether we’re discussing racetracks we don’t own, teams, or drivers, it’s crucial that we unite as one.”
Phelps has been part of NASCAR for a while; he took on the role of president in 2018. Steve O’Donnell has now stepped into his previous role after being promoted to commissioner.
Racing insider Adam Stern from Sports Business Journal shared this news on X, stating:
“
@NASCAR has promoted President @StevePhelps to the new role of Commissioner, making him the first person ever to hold this title. 
As a result, COO Steve O’Donnell has been named the new president of NASCAR.”
Racer.com shared that Phelps has been recognized as the first commissioner of the sport, noting that this role isn’t quite the same as it is now.
What did Steve Phelps do before joining NASCAR?
Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s latest commissioner, has been a part of the sport since 2018. Before he became the president of NASCAR, Phelps achieved success in various business projects.Phelps completed his studies at the University of Vermont and then earned an MBA from Boston College. After finishing school, he worked as the brand manager for Chef Boyardee and later took on the same role for Guinness.
Phelps started his career in the NFL in 1990, taking on the role of vice president of Corporate Marketing. In 2004, he left the NFL to join Wasserman Media Group, where he led global sales.
His introduction to NASCAR came in 2005 when he became the Vice President of Corporate Marketing.
