Steve O’Donnell has replaced Jim France as NASCAR's CEO from Saturday morning.

For the first time in its 70-plus-year history, the man at the helm of NASCAR will no longer be a member of the France family.

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps will step away from the series before the end of the month. His exit comes after he was thrust into the spotlight during the recent antitrust lawsuit over inflammatory text messages directed at a team owner.

Steve Phelps has been named to the newly created position of Commissioner of NASCAR while Steve O’Donnell has been named his successor as president of the sport.NASCAR announced Monday morning that Phelps (pictured above), who has been in the sport for 20 years, will oversee all aspects of NASCAR and...