A rotary shifter having a housing with a bezel cover. A knob is rotatably secured to the housing and is selectively rotatable between each of Reverse Neutral and Drive positions. A push button is configured within the rotary knob and, upon depressing, communicates with a sensor and switch within the housing for establishing the Park position. In a related variant, a Sport position lock ring is secured to a stem of the knob in a normally biasing engagement with an underside of the bezel cover to prevent shifting to the Sport position, the knob being vertically depressed in a counter direction to the bias in order to vertically unseat the lock ring and to permit subsequent rotation to the Sport position. A Sport position spring can also be provided supporting an underside of the plunger housing locker forming a portion of the plunger housing subassembly.