Kevin Harvick Questions Whether NASCAR Even Needs a Commissioner After Steve Phelps’ Resignation

Steve Phelps resigned from his position as a NASCAR Commissioner following the controversial state of the sport. Phelps landed in severe trouble following his controversial texts against RCR team owner Richard Childress. Now, the 2014 Cup Series champion, Kevin Harvick, opens up on the situation and questions if the sport even needs the position to be filled anymore.

Despite the controversial end to Steve Phelps‘ career, many people, including Kevin Harvick, saw good in him. Phelps helped the sport achieve longer TV deal extensions, apart from increased ratings and many other positive changes. However, one leaked private text chain disrupted his entire career and caused his brutal exit from the sport. Now, Harvick lamented the situation and sided with the former commissioner.

Kevin Harvick questioned whether NASCAR needed a commissioner anymore. The 2014 Cup Series champion highlighted that the pinnacle of stock racing did not need to be like other sports, and hence did not need a commissioner. NASCAR differed from other sports because of its unique competition structure and regulations, which were completely different from other motorsport categories.

Further, Kevin Harvick quoted Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had similar thoughts on the status quo. Harvick recalled that Dale Jr. called NASCAR a completely different sport from others in the world. Moreover, the fans of the sport remained different as well. As such, NASCAR did not need to rush in to fill the commissioner spot and mirror what many other sports categories were doing.

Do we need a commissioner? I don’t think anybody wants to be like other sports. I don’t think we need a commissioner, I don’t wanna hear about football, I don’t wanna hear about anything. I want it to be, we’re racing, and I’ve heard Dale Jr. talk about we’re different. Out fans are different than other sports.

Kevin Harvick said on the Happy Hour podcast.

Kevin Harvick claims fans “can’t get over” Steve Phelps’ comments on Richard Childress

The 23XI-FRM vs NASCAR charter lawsuit brought many shocking things to light, which might not have come out if it weren’t for the legal battle. Though it was completely wrong for Steve Phelps to speak so critically about such an iconic figure in NASCAR. Kevin Harvick believes that the situation was taken way out of proportion, and the fans cannot get over the matter now.

Kevin Harvick asserted that the texts were made pubic as the people in the group chat said some things they did not mean. Steve Phelps did a lot of good for the sport, but it was all overlooked once people found out what he said about Richard Childress. Ultimately, the fans couldn’t get over the matter and see Phelps saving face for NASCAR following what he said about one of the most iconic figures in the sport.

I think we all talk about our friends here and there, you might text some things that you probably don’t mean but, in the end, it came out in the court of law, and it became public information, Steve has done a lot of great things in our sport, but I don’t think from a fan’s perspective they can overcome the fact that he said those things about one of the most iconic figures in the sport and save face.

Kevin Harvick noted.

NASCAR has not currently expressed interest in hiring another commissioner to replace Steve Phelps. The leadership duties will shift to other executives, but the commissioner spot remains uncertain. Time will tell if the sport rushes to fill in the empty spot or not. Regardless, Phelps will certainly go down as one of the more polarizing personalities on the NASCAR grid.

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