In the fallout of shocking comments made by NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps directed at owner Richard Childress, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris stepped up to the plate with a stirring three-page statement directed at NASCAR.
In late November, text messages from 2023, unsealed by the court, showed then NASCAR President, and current Commissioner, Steve Phelps, referring to legendary owner Richard Childress as a “stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to NASCAR.”
Childress, known for his outspoken nature, was not going to back down to these comments. In fact, RCR even released a statement saying they were considering legal action, though that has not happened as of press time.
The fallout of these comments has resulted in fanfare and support for Childress and his NASCAR legacy, and now, in a twist of fate, Childress has the support of one of NASCAR’s and RCR’s most well-known sponsors, with Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris releasing a scathing letter pushing back at these comments made by Phelps.
In his letter, Morris, who has, at times, sponsored upwards of three cars in a single race and, at times, even served as the title sponsor of the race itself, fires back, saying he and many others are “outraged by how Richard and his family have been treated by some senior NASCAR leaders.”
Morris goes on to call Phelps’s text messages “shockingly offensive and false criticisms” of Childress, saying that this is an attack on “one of the pillars of the sport.”
The 77-year-old businessman and conservationist even says that Phelps’s comments have damaged not just his reputation, but that of NASCAR.
“The commissioner has repeatedly labeled Richard as “an idiot,” a “dinosaur,” “a stupid redneck” and a “clown.” The fact is Richard Childress has done as much to build and promote NASCAR as anyone in the history of the sport! The commissioner, in all his rant, has only managed to bring discredit to himself and the sport.” — Johnny Morris
In closing, Morris seemingly calls for a settlement in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit between NASCAR and two of its teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
“We hope the France family and team owners will reflect carefully on the damage that’s being done to NASCAR in the ongoing dispute and dig deep and strive hard for compromise,” Morris wrote.
What’s Happening? Friday, documents, including messages from NASCAR officials and interteam communications, were unsealed as part of the ongoing lawsuit between…
Bass Pro Shops made its sponsorship debut in NASCAR on the hood of Dale Earnhardt’s Richard Childress Racing No. 3 in the 1998 Winston All-Star Race. Though the brand would not return to RCR or the sport as a primary sponsor until the 2004 Daytona 500, it has since grown to a staple of NASCAR.
This includes sponsorship of multiple drivers across OEMs throughout the past two decades, including multiple seasons in which they served as the primary sponsor for several drivers. Furthermore, the chain of outdoor retail stores also serves as the title sponsor for NASCAR’s iconic night race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The fallout of the letter from Morris in the online NASCAR community has supported his stance, with fans feeling heard by one of the most consistent and powerful brands in modern NASCAR.
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