NASCAR thought the lawsuit was over and the ugliness would fade away.
They settled with Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in December, granted the permanent charters teams had begged for, and watched Commissioner Steve Phelps resign after his leaked texts calling Richard Childress a "stupid redneck" caused an uproar.
But Childress just made it clear in his first interview about those texts – none of this is forgotten.
Steve Phelps Text Messages That Sparked NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit Fallout
Back in August 2023, Childress gave an interview on SiriusXM questioning NASCAR's new TV deal and charter negotiations.
He wasn't happy with what teams were getting.
Phelps, who was NASCAR President at the time, lost his mind.
In text messages to other NASCAR executives that became public during the trial, Phelps said Childress "needs to be taken out back and flogged."
He called the Hall of Fame team owner a "stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune" to NASCAR.
In another message chain, Phelps called Childress an "idiot" and a "total ass-clown" worth a couple hundred million dollars that he only has because of NASCAR.
It was brutal stuff about a guy who's been in the sport since 1969 and won six championships with Dale Earnhardt.
Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris, who sponsors Childress's team, was so furious he wrote a public letter demanding Phelps be removed.
Childress himself released a statement saying he was "deeply disappointed" and exploring legal action.
The texts helped push NASCAR into settling the lawsuit – they knew this would play terribly with a jury full of racing fans.
Phelps resigned January 6, less than a month after the trial ended.
Richard Childress First Interview After NASCAR Lawsuit Settlement
Childress sat down with Fox8 Sports this week for his first interview about the whole mess.
He talked about moving forward with the France family, who owns NASCAR, and helping the sport come together.
All very diplomatic.
Then they asked him about the personal attacks against him.
"As far as the personal damages that came to me, if I tell you what I think now, you'd probably be bleeping me out."
He said that's something "still to be carried on in the future."
And then came the line that should make NASCAR executives very nervous.
"I'm like an old elephant – you don't forget."
Four words that tell you exactly where this stands.
Elephants are known for their long memories, especially when wronged.
Childress is telling everyone he's not moving on from this just because Phelps quit and the lawsuit settled.
Legal Action Still Possible Against NASCAR After 2026 Season Begins
Back in November when the texts first leaked, Childress put out a statement through his team that ended with a warning.
"RCR and Richard Childress are equally disappointed for the NASCAR fans, with whom Mr. Childress closely identifies given his humble and hard-working background."
"Mr. Childress and the organization will issue no further statements regarding these or other defamatory text messages that have recently surfaced, as legal action is being contemplated and discussed with legal counsel."
He never filed anything.
But he also never said he wasn't going to.
Simply calling someone a "stupid redneck" probably isn't enough to win a defamation lawsuit.
But Childress could argue NASCAR retaliated against him for his SiriusXM comments – using the texts as evidence of hostility toward him specifically.
He could claim they discriminated against him compared to other team owners.
The texts show executives discussing taking action against him, supporting claims they targeted him unfairly.
And here's the key: the lawsuit settlement gave teams permanent charters and revenue sharing, but didn't address personal damages – the reputation harm, insult to his legacy, betrayal from executives supposed to work with him.
Phelps is gone, but that doesn't erase what happened or prevent legal consequences.
Why Richard Childress Racing Matters To NASCAR Fans And Bass Pro Shops
Childress is 80 years old and built one of NASCAR's most successful teams from nothing.
Lost his father at six, worked in school cafeterias, swept floors at gas stations, sold peanuts at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Started Richard Childress Racing in 1971 with money from the 1969 Talladega boycott, no investors, no sponsors.
And NASCAR executives called him a redneck who should be flogged and owes everything to them.
The fans haven't forgotten either.
This is a guy who represents the working-class roots of stock car racing – the exact people who fill the stands every week.
Phelps calling him a "stupid redneck" felt like an attack on the fanbase itself, which is why Bass Pro Shops and other sponsors reacted so strongly.
If Childress does pursue legal action, he won't just have his own lawyers behind him.
He'll have an angry fanbase and major corporate sponsors who've already publicly criticized NASCAR leadership.
That's leverage.
Phelps apologized in court, but Childress clearly isn't satisfied with an apology extracted during a lawsuit NASCAR was losing.
Real accountability would mean financial consequences, public admissions of wrongdoing, changes to how NASCAR treats team owners.
That's what Childress means when he says this is "still to be carried on in the future."
NASCAR got rid of Phelps, thinking that would close the book.
But Childress just told them the elephant remembers.
And elephants hold grudges for a very long time.
Sources:
- Aaron Ryan, "Richard Childress Says He Won't Forget About NASCAR Execs Calling Him A 'Stupid Redneck'," Whiskey Riff, January 22, 2026.
- Bob Pockrass, "What To Know About NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit: Settlement Reached," FOX Sports, December 11, 2025.
- Jenna Fryer, "NASCAR settles federal antitrust case filed by 2 teams," ESPN, December 11, 2025.
- Jenna Fryer, "NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps resigns amid backlash over texts," ESPN, January 6, 2026.
- Adam Stern, "Richard Childress won't forget scathing words from Steve Phelps," Yardbarker, January 22, 2026.
