{"id":299990,"date":"2025-11-22T16:48:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T16:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/299990\/"},"modified":"2025-11-22T16:48:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T16:48:07","slug":"nascar-lawsuit-reveals-concern-over-srx-executives-wanted-to-put-a-knife-in-espn-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/299990\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR lawsuit reveals concern over SRX, executives wanted to ‘put a knife’ in ESPN series"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nothing brings things to light like a lawsuit. The NASCAR<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n

Well, it turns out that the NASCAR executives did not appreciate Tony Stewart doing that. Then they really didn\u2019t like it when team owners like Justin Marks, Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin competed in the series. <\/p>\n

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\u2019t like what was happening. <\/p>\n

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

\u201cOh great, another owner racing in SRX,\u201d a person said in he thread whose name is redacted on the document. Steve O\u2019Donnell and Phelps replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is nascar [sic],\u201d O\u2019Donnell replied. \u201cPure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThese guys are just plain stupid,\u201d Phelps responded. \u201cNeed to put a knife in this trash series.\u201d <\/p>\n

Some interesting texts revealed tonight \u2026 the text reaction of Phelps and O\u2019Donnell when they found out Denny Hamlin was running SRX \u2026 (tonight is the deadline for redacted exhibits to be filed for exhibits used in the summary judgment rulings). pic.twitter.com\/EE6WURbibY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The concerns with SRX were long before 2023, too. If you look at the ratings from its time on CBS, you can\u2019t blame NASCAR for worrying. But that\u2019s more of an issue for them to take up with their media partners. <\/p>\n

NASCAR lawsuit reveals insecurity over SRX in 2021<\/p>\n

In another batch of text messages, NASCAR leadership was caught calling Richard Childress a \u201cstupid redneck.\u201d That feeling, that the team owners were not as smart as the executives at NASCAR, also popped up in messages about SRX in 2021. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the key \u2013 we need to have everyone understand that this could turn into LIV if we don\u2019t play our cards right,\u201d Phelps said of SRX<\/a>. \u201cWe are smarter than they are \u2013 but part of the issue is they don\u2019t have the facts and don\u2019t seem to want to take the time to learn or maybe they just don\u2019t care. It\u2019s all about the money and feeling like they have been heard and are respected. The SRX thing is just baffling to me. Why don\u2019t they get it \u2013 oh, they do get it and it\u2019s a huge FU to us.\u201d <\/p>\n

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\u2019s worries when relationships are potentially being damaged with each new document that comes out. <\/p>\n