NASCAR lawsuit reveals concern over SRX, executives wanted to 'put a knife' in ESPN series

Nothing brings things to light like a lawsuit. The NASCAR lawsuit continues to reveal new and interesting documents. Remember Superstar Racing Experience? SRX? Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham came together with some friends to create what was essentially a short track version of IROC.

Well, it turns out that the NASCAR executives did not appreciate Tony Stewart doing that. Then they really didn’t like it when team owners like Justin Marks, Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin competed in the series.

Of course, we all know that SRX went out of business before the 2024 season. When the series moved from CBS to ESPN, ratings took a major hit. Perhaps a lesson to be learned there, huh? However, then-President and now Commissioner Steve Phelps, along with others at NASCAR, didn’t like what was happening.

A new trove of documents was released in the NASCAR lawsuit on Friday night. Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports did some digging. He found a very interesting conversation from February of 2023.

“Oh great, another owner racing in SRX,” a person said in he thread whose name is redacted on the document. Steve O’Donnell and Phelps replied.

“This is nascar [sic],” O’Donnell replied. “Pure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this.”

“These guys are just plain stupid,” Phelps responded. “Need to put a knife in this trash series.”

Some interesting texts revealed tonight … the text reaction of Phelps and O’Donnell when they found out Denny Hamlin was running SRX … (tonight is the deadline for redacted exhibits to be filed for exhibits used in the summary judgment rulings). pic.twitter.com/EE6WURbibY

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 22, 2025

The concerns with SRX were long before 2023, too. If you look at the ratings from its time on CBS, you can’t blame NASCAR for worrying. But that’s more of an issue for them to take up with their media partners.

NASCAR lawsuit reveals insecurity over SRX in 2021

In another batch of text messages, NASCAR leadership was caught calling Richard Childress a “stupid redneck.” That feeling, that the team owners were not as smart as the executives at NASCAR, also popped up in messages about SRX in 2021.

NASCAR leadership, according to texts from 2021, were even concerned that SRX was going to go to North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray before NASCAR. That would have been one heck of a move for SRX and, admittedly, would have been a bad look for NASCAR. Still, the rhetoric from Steve Phelps was hostile towards the teams and owners.

“That’s the key – we need to have everyone understand that this could turn into LIV if we don’t play our cards right,” Phelps said of SRX. “We are smarter than they are – but part of the issue is they don’t have the facts and don’t seem to want to take the time to learn or maybe they just don’t care. It’s all about the money and feeling like they have been heard and are respected. The SRX thing is just baffling to me. Why don’t they get it – oh, they do get it and it’s a huge FU to us.”

The NASCAR lawsuit has brought out some ugly messages and feelings. It will likely continue to escalate as we get closer to trial and will only heat up more when the trial is underway. Perhaps the court ruling is the least of anyone’s worries when relationships are potentially being damaged with each new document that comes out.