CHARLOTTE — NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps took the witness stand today in the organization’s antitrust trial, saying that part of why NASCAR showed concern about Superstar Racing Experience is because its media rights licensee NBC Sports felt SRX could cause confusion in the marketplace. Phelps was called as an adverse witness by the plaintiffs, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, and was initially questioned by Jeffrey Kessler, the Winston & Strawn attorney who is the teams’ lead outside counsel.

Kessler asked Phelps about his involvement in crafting the original charter system and track sanction exclusivity provisions in 2015 and 2016, questions that Phelps largely said he couldn’t answer because at that time he was only overseeing the business side of NASCAR in areas like sponsorship and hadn’t yet ascended to president. Phelps became president in 2018 and commissioner earlier this year. Kessler made Phelps reveal his salary ($2.5M annually in base and $2.5M in potential bonuses) and appeared to be frustrated by Phelps’ inability to recall conversations between 2015 and 2020.

The lawyer also asked Phelps about a message obtained during discovery in which Phelps, while discussing SRX, was quoted as saying NASCAR should “stick a knife in this trash series.” NASCAR team owners Denny Hamlin and Justin Marks had driven in SRX, and Phelps attributed the message to being ”frustrated that our owners were racing in a series that was using sponsors, colors and livery that looked an awful lot like NASCAR.”

After Kessler finished with his questioning, Phelps was cross-examined by NASCAR’s own external counsel in Christopher Yates of Latham & Watkins. Under questioning from Yates about how those messages on SRX came to be, Phelps said part of the reason NASCAR was concerned about SRX was that NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood had called NASCAR and complained that SRX could create confusion in the marketplace with racing fans after Chase Elliott competed and won a race in Nashville in SRX in 2021. In the trial, the two suing teams are trying to point to NASCAR’s concern about SRX as well as LIV Golf as one of the key signs of it preparing to illegally use its monopoly power to try to prevent competition and therefore leave teams paid at a rate below a normal market value. NASCAR denies such claims.

Kyffin Simpson will drive for Tower Motorsports in next month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, the team confirmed via social media on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Simpson, who is fresh off contesting a promising second season in the IndyCar Series with Chip Ganassi Racing that included a maiden podium on the Streets of Toronto, completes an LMP2 lineup in Tower’s No. 8 Oreca 07 Gibson that includes the full-time pairing of John Farano and Sebastien Bourdais, along with endurance add-on Sebastian Alvarez.

This will mark a reunion for Simpson, who previously raced with Tower for the endurance rounds in 2023 and 2024, taking a class win in the Twelve Hours of Sebring in the latter year with Farano and IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin. 

Additionally, he won the European Le Mans Championship in Algarve Pro Racing’s LMP2 machine in 2023, teaming alongside Alex Lynn and James Allen to capture two wins and five podiums in six races.

Simpson, the 2021 Formula Regional Americas champion, last competed in IMSA’s crown jewel event in 2024 with DragonSpeed, finishing seventh in class and 48th overall.

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Phase 1 Site Plan

Premier 600-Acre Automotive Destination to Feature Private Racetrack, Luxury Trackside Condominiums, Exclusive Garages, and Karting Track

JACKSONVILLE, FL, UNITED STATES, December 9, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — North Florida Motorsports Park Announced: Premier 600-Acre Automotive Destination Coming to Nassau County
World-Class Racing Facility is proposed, led by Indy 500 Champion and motorsports legend Bobby Rahal to Feature Private Racetrack, Luxury Trackside Condominiums, Exclusive Garages, and Karting Track

North Florida Motorsports Park, a groundbreaking 600-acre automotive lifestyle destination, was announced today, bringing a sophisticated motorsports experience to Florida’s First Coast. The premier development will combine a professional-grade racetrack with luxury residential offerings and public amenities, establishing a new benchmark for automotive enthusiasts in the region.

Strategically located in Nassau County with convenient access to Interstate 95 and County Road 108, the project honors Northeast Florida’s rich exotic and luxury car heritage, building upon the legacy of the world-renowned Amelia Island Concours d ‘Elegance. The development will seamlessly blend high-performance driving experiences with refined residential living for those who share a passion for automotive excellence.

“This region has an incredible automotive culture, and North Florida Motorsports Park will provide enthusiasts with an exceptional venue to celebrate that passion,” Bobby Rahal noted. “We’re creating more than a racetrack – we’re building a community.”

Bobby Rahal’s involvement brings unparalleled credibility and vision to the project. The three-time IndyCar champion, 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, and successful team owner has been instrumental in shaping American motorsports for decades.

Rahal’s role will be prominent, ensuring not only world class off-track facilities but also track design with world leading architects, delivering what promises to be a true driver and owner focused experience, from start to finish.

Planned Features Include:

• Professional Racing Circuit: A meticulously designed racetrack meeting international safety and performance standards

• Trackside Condominiums: Luxury residences offering unparalleled views and direct access to the circuit

• Exclusive Garage Facilities: Climate-controlled, secure spaces for automotive collections

• Members-Only Club: Private membership opportunities with exclusive track access and premium amenities

• Public Karting Experience: A premier one stop solution karting facility welcoming enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels, built to the highest international standards and certification.

The project will benefit from the expertise of affiliated partner Atlanta Motorsports Park, one of the nation’s premier private motorsports clubs, bringing proven operational excellence to North Florida.

Distinguished project partners include:

• Bobby Rahal: Hall of Fame racing driver, team owner, and automotive industry leader

• NF Sports Development: Financial advisory and motorsports project development

• M2 Real Estate Advisors: Real Estate strategy and development

• Atlanta Motorsports Park: Operational expertise and motorsports management

“North Florida Motorsports Park represents a transformative opportunity for Nassau County. This project blends innovation, recreation, and economic development in a way that strengthens our community and elevates our region. We are proud to welcome a world-class motorsports destination” said Taco Pope, County Manager – Board of County Commissioners

“This Project represents a unique convergence of passion and place,” said Michael McNaughton, President of M2 Real Estate Advisors. “The trackside condominium concept offers an unprecedented real estate opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts who want to live where they play. We’re seeing tremendous interest in experiential luxury real estate, and this project positions Nassau County, North Florida at the forefront of that trend.”

“North Florida Motorsports Park is the evolution of automotive lifestyle communities,” said Bruno Fusaro, of NF Sports Development. “We’re creating an environment where driving enthusiasts can pursue their passion while enjoying world-class amenities and the camaraderie of like-minded individuals. “The public karting facility will ensure North Florida Motorsports Park serves as an accessible gateway to motorsports for families and aspiring racers, while the private club and residential components will cater to serious collectors and driving enthusiasts.

For membership inquiries, residential opportunities, or additional information about North Florida Motorsports Park, visit www.NorthFloridaMotorsportsPark.com , follow @nfmotorsportspark on social media, and sign up for breaking news, updates and new developments.

About North Florida Motorsports Park North Florida Motorsports Park is a planned 600-acre premier automotive lifestyle destination in Nassau County, Florida, featuring a world-class racetrack, luxury trackside residences, exclusive garage facilities, private membership club, and public karting experience.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Contact@NorthFloridaMotorsportsPark.com

Michael H McNaughton
North Florida Motorsports Park
+1 617-869-8615
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What’s Happening?

During examination in the antitrust trial between 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps addressed a controversial text message he sent in February 2023, saying that NASCAR needed to “put a knife” in the SRX Series.

Phelps took the stand Tuesday morning as the ninth witness to testify in the antitrust trial.

During the examination from 23XI Racing counsel Jeffery Kessler, these texts, sent in 2023 and released to the public in late November, came up in discussion.

In these texts, Phelps, the then President of NASCAR, and current President, and then COO, Steve O’Donnell, discussed Denny Hamlin announcing plans to race in the SRX race at Stafford in July 2023.

O’Donnell texted Phelps, saying, “This is NASCAR. Pure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this.” He addressed this message last week, saying he was concerned, asserting that SRX looked more and more like NSCAR, with drivers, legend, sponsors, and even numbers from the sport.

In response to O’Donnell’s text, Phelps said they “Need to put a knife in this trash series.”

Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal reports that when asked about this message on Tuesday, Phelps said he was frustrated that owners, like Hamlin, were racing in the series “using sponsors, colors and livery that looked an awful lot like NASCAR.”

This echoes the sentiment of O’Donnell, though it is worth noting that all paint schemes, or liveries, used in SRX followed the same format using a large X on the side with gray accents, a main body color, and the number on the rear wing, as seen below.

Phelps further brought up a conversation with NBC Sports Executive Producer & President of Production, Sam Flood, who complained about Chase Elliott racing the stylized No. 9 with NAPA sponsorship in a 2021 SRX race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, a complaint also mentioned by O’Donnell last week.

Also worth noting is the fact that Elliott did not run the No. 9 and sponsor NAPA as a combo in his two career SRX starts.

He instead raced the No. 94 (which looked somewhat similar to the No. 94 he used at Hendrick Motorsports in the Truck Series in 2013) with NAPA Sponsorship at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2021, and the No. 9, which was not identical to his HMS No. 9, with sponsorship from ASHOC Energy at Sharon Speedway in 2022.  

Though the series shut down after 2023, SRX has been a hot topic of conversation in this trial, as many wonder if NASCAR’s fears may have led to anticompetitive action against the series.

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Looking to avenge its disqualification from the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona, Tower Motorsports has confirmed its full line-up for the 2026 race and the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

With Tower Motorsports owner/driver John Farano already set to return to drive the No. 8 ORECA 07-Gibson, so does the duo of 2014 Daytona overall winner Sébastien Bourdais and young Mexican driver Sebastian Alvarez. At Daytona, Tower Motorsports will welcome back NTT IndyCar Series driver Kyffin Simpson to the team, for the first time since 2023 when he ran the Michelin Endurance Cup and won the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Farano, Bourdais, and Alvarez were part of the team that took the checkered flag first at Daytona, but the No. 8 car was stripped of its victory after a plank wear violation discovered in post-race scrutineering. They would rebound the following round by finishing second at Sebring, which would go down as Tower’s best finish of 2025 – finishing no better than seventh in the remaining five races.

It’ll be the 17th Rolex 24 appearance for Bourdais, the four-time Champ Car champion and current Cadillac Racing factory driver, who is set to begin his second FIA WEC season with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA.

Simpson last raced in IMSA in 2024 before embarking on his new role as a Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar driver, in which the former European Le Mans Series LMP2 champion made significant improvements in his 2025 sophomore campaign. He’ll reunite with Alvarez, who, like Simpson, makes his fourth Rolex 24 appearance.

Cope Family Racing (CFR) has joined forces with Stanton Barrett Motorsports (SBM) to form SBM With CFR for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.

The team will transition to the No. 30 car (formerly CFR’s No. 70) and will remain with Chevrolet. Drivers and sponsors will be announced at a later date.

Stanton Barrett, owner and driver of SBM, has a long history in NASCAR’s top series and has been operating a driver development program, including WRL, Trans Am and HSR. SBM runs out of a Denver, North Carolina, location but Barrett has purchased a race shop in Mooresville for NASCAR operations.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to partner with CFR and continue the long history of SBM,” Barrett said. “Derrike has been a staple in the racing industry and someone that I have great respect for. We collectively bring over 70 years as owners and drivers at the highest levels of NASCAR.”

“Kevin Cope and I are excited about forming this alliance with SBM,” Derrike Cope said. “We have made great strides in acquiring the necessary race cars to be ready for Daytona and the first part of the year, including being reunited with veteran crew chief George Church.”

Cope Family Racing is a group of seasoned professionals with over 40 years at the highest levels of NASCAR. The ownership team, as of 2026, is comprised of Derrike and Elyshia Cope, and new partner Kevin Cope.

For more information, visit stantonbarrettmotorsports.com.