AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 04: NASCAR President Steve Phelps (L) and NASCAR Executive Vice ... More President Steve O'Donnell speak to the media during the NASCAR annual State of the Sport address at Phoenix Raceway on November 04, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Well, it finally happened. NASCAR, long the proud outlier of American professional sports, has officially joined the ranks of the NFL, NBA, MLB, and just about every other organization that takes itself seriously enough to have a commissioner. The sport that once prided itself on being run like a family barbecue now has a man in a suit with a title that sounds like he should be handing out fines and suspensions.
The sanctioning body announced Monday that man is Steve Phelps, the guy who has been at the helm as NASCAR President since 2018 and now gets the grander title of Commissioner of NASCAR—a brand-new position that comes with more oversight, a broader scope, and probably a fancier office chair. His role will include overseeing the entire NASCAR ecosystem, including the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and the 15 tracks NASCAR owns or operates. Essentially, if it’s got four wheels, a stock car body, and runs under NASCAR’s umbrella, Phelps now has his hands on it.
“We are thrilled to name Steve Phelps as NASCAR’s first Commissioner,” said NASCAR Chairman & CEO, Jim France. “His leadership, professionalism and well-earned respect from across the sports industry speak to his unique value for the sport.”
Phelps joined NASCAR as Vice President of Corporate Marketing in 2005. Beginning the following year, ... More he spent 12 years as Chief Marketing Officer and oversaw all marketing functions for the sanctioning body. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in April 2018 before transitioning to President in Septmeber 2018. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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In other words, Phelps is the guy they trust to push NASCAR forward—particularly when it comes to strategic growth and that buzzword that keeps creeping into the sport: international expansion. It’s no secret that NASCAR wants to spread its influence beyond America’s borders, and Phelps will be the one making sure it doesn’t just fizzle out after a few exhibition races.
Meanwhile, stepping into Phelps' old role as NASCAR President is longtime industry figure Steve O’Donnell. If you’ve been following NASCAR for any length of time, you know O’Donnell—he’s spent 30 years in the sport, working in marketing, competition, and operations, making him one of the most experienced executives in the garage. As President, he’ll be in charge of the day-to-day operations, meaning everything from race scheduling to commercial partnerships to—hopefully—figuring out why the Next Gen car still isn’t quite right on short tracks.
“In my 30 years in NASCAR, I’ve been most inspired by the passion of race fans at tracks across the country,” O’Donnell said. “I believe we’re the best in the world at creating ‘Bucket List’ events that merge sports and entertainment with tailgating, camping, and the most immersive fan experience in sports.”
So what does this mean for NASCAR as a whole? For starters, it signals that the sport is taking its structure more seriously than ever. With a commissioner at the top and a President handling the daily grind, NASCAR is positioning itself more like the NFL or MLB, where leadership is centralized, and long-term strategy is a constant focus. And—if they’re really leaning into this—maybe even a draft, playoffs that make sense, and someone to blame when the officiating goes sideways.
Phelps himself summed it up best: “This sport is truly one of the great American business stories, and I’m privileged to continue as part of that legacy—and especially its bright future.”
NASCAR is thinking big. Whether all this leads to more thrilling races or just more boardroom meetings, we’re all about to find out.