NASCAR names its first commissioner and promotes a new president. You’ve met them before
For the first time in its 77-year history, NASCAR has a commissioner.
The sanctioning body that governs the biggest stock-car racing enterprise in America has announced the appointment of Steve Phelps as Commissioner of NASCAR. He’s the first to be named to the newly created role — one that oversees all aspects of NASCAR, including all three national series, the grassroots programs, IMSA and all 15 NASCAR-owned or operated tracks, according to a release.
This is a promotion for Phelps, who previously served as the company’s president.
Phelps will be succeeded by his longtime right-hand man, Steve O’Donnell, who has been elevated to president of NASCAR and whose main priorities now concern the day-to-day leadership of all three NASCAR national series, as well as all commercial, media and track operations.
Both role changes are effective immediately and are based in Daytona Beach, Florida, according to a news release.
“We are thrilled to name Steve Phelps as NASCAR’s first commissioner,” Jim France, NASCAR chairman and CEO, said in a statement Monday. “His leadership, professionalism and well-earned respect from across the sports industry speak to his unique value for the sport.
“With more than 50 years of expertise between them, both Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell bring tremendous expertise, stability and a commitment to the bold racing innovations that will continue to serve fans, teams and stakeholders for many years to come.”
Phelps joined NASCAR in 2005 and became the sport’s fifth president in 2018. He’s had a lot to do in his seven years at the post. In the past three years alone, there’s been a lot to lead the sport through.
Among the challenges include the introduction of the Next Gen car, which debuted in 2022. The impact the new car made on the field was polarizing.
On the one hand, the fact that every team had to purchase the same supplies from the same NASCAR-approved vendor meant immense parity. That was a virtue for surprise teams like Trackhouse Racing, as well as race fans who loved to see close finishes and “anyone-win-can” races.
On the other hand, the new car posed immediate racing shortcomings, drivers said. Among those shortcomings involve the safety of the Next Gen car: The parts were too rigid, drivers claimed, and thus made certain angles of certain hits harder and feel more dangerous. That all came to a head at the conclusion of the 2022 season, when concussions kept Alex Bowman out of the playoffs and helped expedite the retirement of former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch.
Phelps led efforts in NASCAR to improve driver safety as a result, which included opening up a line to the driver’s council.
Phelps also led the sport through a media rights deal, which was signed in 2023, and extended the charter agreement with NASCAR teams. Thirteen of the 15 teams signed the charter agreement in September — the one that was slightly modified from the one established in 2016. The two teams who didn’t were Front Row Motorsports and Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing, both of whom are now in the midst of a long legal battle with NASCAR that will likely end in trial in December.
O’Donnell, carrying 30 years of experience with NASCAR, will take over as the sanctioning body’s sixth president. He is most recently coming from the title of chief operating officer — a role in which he had a hand in pretty much everything, from marketing to competition. He is now set on “continued innovation and engagement for NASCAR’s key stakeholders, fans and employees” while also finding success for the sport and “its increasingly global audience.”
He will also oversee the NASCAR Production Facility in Concord and the Emmy Award-winning NASCAR Studios team.
“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,” O’Donnell said via statement. “I’m honored to continue that mission and build upon the collaboration and innovation with our teams and partners to deliver the best racing to sports fans everywhere.”
This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 9:36 AM with the headline "NASCAR names its first commissioner and promotes a new president. You’ve met them before."
