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Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris expresses outrage in letter to NASCAR, over Steve Phelps 'shockingly offensive' attacks on Richard Childress

by: John Jamison12/11/25

NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps referred to Richard Childress as an “idiot,” a “stupid redneck,” and suggested that the RCR owner be “taken out back and flogged” in unsealed text messages. Now, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris is firing back at Phelps and NASCAR’s leadership in a major way.

A few weeks ago, text messages between NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps and Chief Media & Revenue Officer Brian Herbst were revealed as a result of the ongoing lawsuit brought by 23XI and Front Row Motorsports. Within them were the insults toward Richard Childress that Johnny Morris cites in the statement below.

“Many of our teammates have validly expressed concern that the commissioner’s recently revealed contempt for Richard Childress makes it abundantly clear that he and his lieutenants are not capable of being fair and objective when it comes to impartially enforcing the rules and regulations that govern the sport…

…Such blatant disrespect would probably not sit well with the fans – such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t keep his or her job for very long!”

Bass Pro Shops and NASCAR have been synonymous for decades, with the company maintaining sponsorship of Richard Childress Racing since 1998. The company’s founder and CEO, Johnny Morris, is a friend of Richard Childress himself. A friend who fairly points out just how important Childress, a “pillar of the sport,” has been to NASCAR, first as a driver and now as an owner.

NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps addresses Richard Childress insults under oath

The 23XI and Front Row Motorsports vs. NASCAR antitrust trial is in full swing. Yesterday, it was NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps’ turn to take the stand. Attorney Jeffrey Kessler broached the Richard Childress subject, despite the messages themselves not being shown in court.

Per Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal, 23XI and FRM’s representative asked Steve Phelps if he “had always shown respect in his texts/emails about team owners such as Richard Childress.”

Phelps responded with yes, “by and large.” But he also admitted that he had sent a message about Richard Childress that he is “not proud of” and has since apologized for.