What happens when two NASCAR Hall of Famers come together with a vision to bring short track racing back? The answer was SRX. However, despite the hype surrounding the project, it was eventually shut down. The series co-founder, Ray Evernham, has now opened up about what went wrong. 

Evernham, alongside Tony Stewart, founded the  Camping World Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) back in 2021. It was quite similar to the International Race of Champions (IROC), which went out of business in 2006.

After three seasons, SRX suffered the same fate and shut down in 2024. In a recent appearance on the "Door, Bumper, Clear" podcast, Evernham spoke about what went wrong, saying:

"The world has evolved a lot since the original IROC. So, the sports have evolved a lot, you know. So, having active drivers, it'd be really difficult. Scheduling, sponsor conflicts, manufacturer conflicts, it's just hard to do."

The series lured in drivers from various other series like NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, and others, and they mostly competed at the short tracks. The series was a massive hit in its first year.

But viewership wasn't steady, and got poor TV ratings in 2023. As 2024 rolled around, SRX was shut down, citing "market factors".

He further added how the first year was a great success as NASCAR’s supporting series. Evernham also touched up on what went wrong in the years preceding. 

"But on an entertaining thing like we did with SRX, and you know, straight up, the first year was mega, man. We knocked it out of the park and did whatever. And I just didn't agree with the way that we were going to approach the second year with the partnership. And I said, you know, if you do that, you know, I'll be out of business in two years. So, I hit that on the head," Evernham added.

Over the years, the series was active, and several of NASCAR’s active drivers participated in the series. However, this was not something that was liked by the sanctioning body, something that also became a challenge in keeping the series going. 

When leaked text messages revealed how NASCAR leadership felt about SRX

Since most of the SRX races were held either during the week or on a Saturday, NASCAR drivers always took the opportunity to race in the series. However, this was something that NASCAR's sanctioning body frowned upon.

The resistance came to light in 2025 during the 23XI and Front Row Motorsports antitrust suit, which was about NASCAR using its control over things like charters and sponsorship rules, among other things.

The text exchange between then-commissioner Steve Phelps and then-president Steve O’Donnell was after Hamlin announced his participation in an SRX race.

The text screenshots were shared by NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass via his X account. O'Donnell's message to Phelps read:

"This is NASCAR. Pure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this."

Steve Phelps responded to that text, writing: "These guys are just plain stupid. Need to put a knife in this trash series."

Seeing these texts, Ray Evernham’s recent comments now align with the challenges he faced behind the scenes of bringing in active drivers to the series. 

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak