It’s time to come together, says NASCAR’s Phelps

In his first conversation since being named Commissioner of NASCAR earlier this week, Steve Phelps reiterated the importance having all elements of the sport pulling the rope in the same direction.

“The most important thing for us is the continued rush toward collaboration with our industry,” Phelps said on Hauler Talk, NASCAR’s official podcast, “and whether you’re talking about racetracks that we don’t own or you’re talking about teams or you’re talking about drivers, it is important that we come together as one. And we are at a competitive disadvantage because we don’t own ourselves as an entity. We are not a league.

“But in my opinion, the more we act like a league, the better it’ll be for all stakeholders. Not just NASCAR the company, but NASCAR the sport because we are stronger together than we are apart. So, to me, that is the No. 1 thing in my job that is the most critical.”

Phelps spent over an hour on the podcast discussing a variety of topics. The commissioner role is not new to NASCAR, as there was such a position decades ago. But it was not in the same capacity (more ceremonial and appeals-related) as it will be used now, and therefore, the sport is describing Phelps as its first Commissioner.

The job comes after Phelps had served as NASCAR president since 2018. Subsequently, Steve O’Donnell was named the new president of NASCAR.

After saying that collaboration remains the biggest agenda item, Phelps also offered what the biggest threat is to NASCAR. Not surprisingly, his answer was about the industry not working together.

“There are macroeconomic things that are outside of our control; you can’t worry about those,” he said. “So, we’ll adapt to whatever it is — whether it’s a recession or a pandemic or whatever that’s going to be. We’ve done it before (and) we’ll do it again. But to me, it’s like what things can you control through relationships that you have, through cajoling, or whatever it might be that brings people together and show them in the short term, maybe this isn’t in your best interest or our best interest as a company but long term, it is what’s going to be in the best interest of everyone.

“We have a moment in time with new media partners (signed), with the bulk of the charters (being) extended — it is time to come together.”

There are still details to be shared about Phelps’s role, particularly concerning his involvement with IMSA. The announcement of Phelps being named Commissioner included Phelps overseeing all aspects of NASCAR and IMSA. The latter, however, does not seem to have been fleshed out, or at least ready for public explanation.

In NASCAR, Phelps will focus on growth and international expansion.

“The governing part of that and my role is really of governing our company, so NASCAR,” Phelps said. “The broader role, really, is making sure that the rest of our stakeholder group understands the direction that we’re taking the sport and then how they participate as part of that.

“So, it’s a different role, and I guess the question is why? Why now? Why this role? I think it provides some different opportunities for us that will elevate the sport. Is it a nice thing for me personally? Of course. I’m humbled and honored to be the first of its kind.”