NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has recently spoken out against NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps for derogatory comments made about legendary team owner Richard Childress. In a recent episode of ‘The Dale Jr. Download,’ Earnhardt criticized Phelps for remarks that he deemed crossed a line both professionally and personally.
The controversy stemmed from text messages revealed during the discovery phase of a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR. In these messages, Phelps referred to Childress as a "stupid redneck" who owed his fortune to NASCAR and called him a "total a— clown" who needed to be "taken out back and flogged." These texts became public in November 2025, leading to intense backlash and Phelps’ subsequent resignation from his role, effective by the end of January.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. defended Childress, emphasizing their deep familial connection that dates back to his childhood. Earnhardt grew up in Childress’ shop, and his late father, Dale Earnhardt, drove for Richard Childress Racing for the majority of his illustrious career, winning six of his seven NASCAR Cup Series championships with the team.
In response to Phelps’ comments, Earnhardt stated, “A lot of things came to light that a lot of people probably wish hadn’t… Phelps is a great dude. I know what he said about Richard Childress is not cool. I didn’t like it. I don’t think that that was a good thing to say about Richard. No matter what you think about Richard Childress, he’s near family to me.”
The conversation on ‘The Dale Jr. Download’ also touched on Tony Stewart’s upcoming NASCAR return. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will drive the #25 RAM truck for Kaulig Racing at the 2026 Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt expressed surprise at Stewart’s choice of Daytona for his return, jokingly stating, “He picked the doozy. Damn goodness. The dude don’t get **** because now I wouldn’t have picked Daytona. I want to pick somewhere else. It must be writing him a nice check.”
The 2026 Truck Series opener at Daytona is scheduled for Friday, February 13. Earnhardt’s candid commentary on both Phelps’ controversy and Stewart’s comeback reflects his deep roots in the NASCAR community and his commitment to upholding the sport’s values and traditions.
