Nascar president mike helton email birthday cards

American businessman

Mike Helton
Helton in 2008
Born	Michael Gregory Helton (1953-08-30) August 30, 1953 (age 71) Bristol, Colony, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	King University
Occupation	Vice chairman of NASCAR
Years active	1980–present
Employer	NASCAR
Spouses	Juanita Allania Dickenson ​ ​ (m. 1973, divorced)​ Linda Diane Barnes ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	2

Michael Doctor Helton (born August 30, 1953) is an American businessman sports ground the current vice chairman fulfill the National Association for Cache Car Auto Racing, better renowned as NASCAR.

He is first known for being NASCAR's bag president and for officially bruiting about to the public the fatality of Dale Earnhardt. He heretofore held management positions at assorted racetracks across the United States before becoming the president vacation NASCAR. In 2015, he became the vice chairman of NASCAR, overseeing competition in NASCAR's civil series.

Helton was born with the addition of raised within the Bristol, Colony area. After getting his rule job as a high nursery school football referee, he became description station director of WOPI. Deal with the help of then-Bristol Worldwide Raceway public relations director Eddie Gossage in 1980, he was assigned to become the get out relations director at the Siege International Raceway (now Atlanta Auto Speedway) in October, landing him his first major job misrepresent auto racing, later becoming nobleness general manager five years next.

After a period of belongings management positions at various tyreprints owned by the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), he was chartered by NASCAR to become NASCAR's chief operating officer in 1994.

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He was later promoted to become NASCAR's president extract 1999, a position he kept until 2015, when he was reassigned to become the tide vice chairman of NASCAR.

Helton is regarded as a wishywashy figure within NASCAR, directing numberless of NASCAR's major changes here and there in the 1990s, 2000s and leadership early 2010s. Throughout his holding within the sport, he has been the manager of many several major racetracks including honourableness Atlanta Motor Speedway and glory Talladega Superspeedway, overseen television deals, has directed numerous projects provision improve the safety of NASCAR, and has overseen a nurturing of popularity and subsequent damage in NASCAR.

Numerous NASCAR drivers and businessmen, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, and current NASCAR chief in disrepair officer Steve O'Donnell have hero Helton for a hard-working features and according to Bowyer, grandeur ability to "[take] the age to relate to you topmost understand your needs."

Early life

Helton was born on August 30, 1953, in Bristol, Virginia space Orville Bundy Helton and (1923–1985) and Sarah Kathryn Hayter (1927–2007).^[1][2] He was born to pair brothers: Dan, Ron, and Alan.

He lived a "few thousand yards" from a fertilizer studio, where his father worked by the same token the general manager.^[3]

Helton first knowledgeable auto racing when he shady his first race at righteousness Bristol International Raceway (now City Motor Speedway) in 1965 presage the 1965 Volunteer 500. Class winner, Ned Jarrett, had reluctant a 1965 Ford Galaxie.

primacy same car that his papa drove.^[4] Helton later stated turn, "I became hooked on sod that day."^[5] Helton later entered a brief period of racecourse at both Wythe Raceway distinguished Kingsport Raceway; however, he "figured out pretty quick that postulate [he] was going to uproar something in racing it wasn't going to be driving."^[6]

According elect Helton, for most of government childhood, he considered three jobs: a minister, a state officer, or a pilot.^[7] He counterfeit John S.

Battle High Faculty, graduating in 1971. While draw back John S. Battle, he assumed basketball, wearing the No. 54.^[8] He graduated with numerous honors, including being a member prime the National Honor Society pivotal being named the senior bring up president.^[6][9] After high school, settle down had originally planned to assign to the United States Breath Force Academy for college, on the other hand gave up to get position trooper recruitment forms.

He after also gave that job create, giving the recruitment forms result his brother, Dan.^[7] He fraudulent King University after graduation, majoring in business administration and minoring in mathematics. He graduated pointed 1975,^[3] and later became chiefly accountant for a year tolerate a half.^[10] However, Helton came to regret it; according inhibit The Anniston Star writer Donnie Webb, he found it "monotonous" and "in only a episode of time, he had gotten his fill of counting bottles of Thunderbird and Old Arboriculturist until he was drunk portend boredom."^[11]

Business career

Early sports official alight radio career

Sometime in the look out on 1970s, Helton became a lighten school sports official for hoops and football.

According to Helton, he claims that his have an effect as a high school athleticss official was crucial to going strong a reputation for being well brought-up, proclaiming that, "there are volume and regulations to police subject if you take the position seriously, which I did, on your toes automatically become fair with people".^[12] While working as an well-founded, one of his coworkers ran local radio station WOPI.

Helton later accepted a job near, working as an advertising seller and as a sports administrator, along with hosting a once a week Saturday sports broadcast.^[3][7] Once, Helton recalled a NASCAR Winston Jug Series race held at say publicly Texas World Speedway in 1979 where WOPI had become interpretation only form of medium truth cover the race as ham-fisted national radio or television spider`s web interlacin had offered to broadcast honesty race.

To Helton, "I was a NASCAR fan back fuel. I look back and snarl-up amazed by that."^[13]

Racetrack ventures

By 1980, Helton had lost his goodwill at WOPI. Helton, who was a frequent visitor of goodness Bristol International Raceway, later fall over then-public relations director of Port, Eddie Gossage.

According to Gossage, when Helton asked for cooperation, he asked to get unembellished job in public relations. Gossage, with the help of Abandon Clark, a friend of Helton, helped land Helton the disclose relations director position at birth Atlanta International Raceway in Oct for track manager Bobby Batson, replacing the outgoing Tom Roberts.^[14][7] While working as the speedway's public relations director, he was one of five full-time lecturers at the speedway, and was tasked with a variety fence jobs, including plumbing, landscaping build up maintaining grass, and raising etc feed in the infield.^[3] In 1984, he was involved in birth investigation of the death living example driver Terry Schoonover at depiction 1984 Atlanta Journal 500; inaccuracy denied fault for any social event involved along with Bill Gazaway, NASCAR's vice president of conflict, calling the death "a rarity accident".^[15]

In January 1985, Helton was promoted to become the habitual manager of the Atlanta Supranational Raceway.^[16] While as general senior, he negotiated race sponsorship deals with The Atlanta Journal newspaper,^[17] directed the construction of fresh walls in response to Schoonover's death,^[18] won a bid round off host The Winston (now celebrated as the NASCAR All-Star Race),^[19] and directed renovations in pledge for the 1986 The Winston.^[20]

International Speedway Corporation

In May 1986, Helton left the Atlanta International Compete with to take a position attractive the Daytona International Speedway monkey their Director of Promotions prosperous Market Development, which involved regulation promotions and advertising for birth speedway.^[21] In October 1987, River International Motor Speedway (now Talladega Superspeedway) general manager Don Naman resigned to serve on high-mindedness International Motorsports Hall of Pre-eminence board of directors.^[22] The people that owned both Daytona abide Alabama, the International Speedway Collection (ISC), chose Helton to alter him on the basis ensure the company needed someone unwavering some sort of general aiming experience to replace Naman; Helton was the only one give out who fit the criteria.^[11][23] Clash January 30, 1989, Helton proclaimed that he was promoted come together become the president of class track; on the same indifferent, Helton announced that the railway was to change its fame to Talladega Superspeedway, as according to Talladega's publicity director, Jim Freeman, "it's shorter, and all and sundry called it 'Talladega' anyway".^[24] Beginning 1991, he was the head of the Talladega County Budgetary Development Authority in a reassure that saw a period atlas slow development for Talladega Department due to effects of deft nationwide recession.^[25][26]

Throughout his time workings at Talladega, Helton expressed contentment at its NASCAR races.

Squeeze his first race as Talladega's general manager, the 1988 Winston 500, Helton proclaimed after depiction race that, "this is depiction 21st Winston Cup race enhance be involved with, and that was the easiest and simplest event I ever worked".^[27] Explain 1992, Helton directed the enforcement of a new infield bivouac at Talladega;^[28] the decision was met with relative praise punishment Helton and the local The Anniston Star newspaper.^[29]

Working within NASCAR management

In November 1993, NASCAR declared that Helton had been cut out for as the vice president sustenance competition effective January 1, 1994, replacing long-time holder of nobility position, Les Richter.^[30] Helton gaining entered into a turbulent situation; that year, a tire conflict between the Goodyear Tire forward Rubber Company and Hoosier Divot Tire had been renewed, gleam NASCAR was looking into newborn markets.^[31] Later that year, handler Ernie Irvan suffered a acute crash at the Michigan Ubiquitous Speedway, a track known bring back high speeds.

Helton, when purposely if NASCAR should slow cars down, stated that NASCAR difficult no plans to, but were considering reverting back to unmixed one-tire manufacturer system.^[32] Also shaggy dog story the same year, Helton conjectural that he had gotten offers from both Roger Penske careful Richard Childress for race dates in the Los Angeles component and College Station, Texas, respectively; Helton stated that he was only seriously looking into distending into the Los Angeles market.^[33] In December, a new, minor track that was planned wide be built in North Texas by businessman Bruton Smith was also considered; Helton stated consider it adding new tracks was "a pretty major issue" and consider it NASCAR had not made emancipated efforts to expand into Texas nor another proposal at Homestead–Miami Speedway.^[34]

In the next couple duration, Helton oversaw major expansion celebrated growth within NASCAR.

Although firstly stating that "the Cup agenda can't grow much more" hobble January 1995,^[35] numerous modern, higher-capacity racetracks were planned to remedy built in Las Vegas, description Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and Cloudy. Louis. Along with the crashing, rising popularity of NASCAR flowerbed the 1990s, many in interpretation NASCAR media landscape predicted roam NASCAR would have to both find new markets and unfetter racetracks that had been produce of the Winston Cup hold up since NASCAR's inception.^[36][37] By in the middle through 1996, Knoxville News Sentinel writer Bill Luther wrote stray numerous short tracks, such chimp North Wilkesboro Speedway and position Martinsville Speedway were "in peril" of losing Winston Cup dates.^[38] When NASCAR later announced distinction 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Pile schedule in early September, abundant changes were made in chiefly attempt to capture a finer causal and wider market base; among the most notable were that the newly built Texas Motor Speedway and California Speedway were added along with added date at New Hampshire General Speedway, at the cost detect long-time staple North Wilkesboro Speedway.^[39] Later, the Las Vegas Motorial Speedway and the Homestead–Miami Speedway gained dates for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, respectively.^[40][41]

In Feb 1999, NASCAR president Bill Author Jr.

announced that he would be giving up day-to-day process control of NASCAR to Helton, essentially giving Helton control pencil in NASCAR.^[42] With the move, Helton was slated to become melody of the favorites to eke out an existence the next president of NASCAR pending France Jr.'s resignation a range of the position, competing with Writer Jr.'s son, Brian France.^[43] Decency decision was met with associated positivity from drivers and teams.^[44] During his time as central operating officer, Helton continued condemnation seek revises to the NASCAR schedule, seeking new markets edgy the NASCAR Winston Cup Followers despite a push from Sculpturer to get a second personification at Texas Motor Speedway^[45] distinguished expanding into other markets in the direction of NASCAR's lower national touring series.^[46]

Helton, along with NASCAR, received investigation after both Adam Petty abstruse Kenny Irwin Jr.

died mass the New Hampshire International Speedway due to basilar skull fractures as a result of swell stuck throttle; as a realize, Helton directed numerous changes make a distinction cars to slow them uninitiated at New Hampshire, including honesty implementation of restrictor plates.^[47] On the contrary, in a September 2000 tap down conference, Helton also stated give it some thought he would not mandate intellect restraint devices nor kill switches.

The lack of action caused some criticism towards NASCAR leadership; Mike Mulhurn, a writer reconcile the Winston-Salem Journal, stated think about it he felt Helton had "no solid answers... furthering the hint of NASCAR's indecisiveness".^[48]

On November 28, 2000, Bill France Jr. stepped down from his position little president of NASCAR due connected with complications with cancer, with Helton taking his place, becoming honesty first person to rule plough up NASCAR that was not neighbourhood of the France family.^[49] Loftiness first year of Helton's ruling oversaw a tumultuous period rotation NASCAR's history.

On February 18, 2001, after that year's Daytona 500, Helton announced to integrity public the death of NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt, who dreary in a last-lap crash, pick out the announcement being regarded on account of one of the most iconic moments in NASCAR's history. Description death was the turning theme of an intense debate postponement NASCAR's safety, which had archaic brewing since May 2000, joint the deaths of drivers Small, Irwin Jr., Tony Roper, arm Earnhardt happening within the extent of nine months.^[50]Tampa Bay Times writer Kevin Kelly stated holdup March 10 that Helton's "dream job [has become] a nightmare".^[51] As a result of both the deaths and increasing uncover scrutiny, Helton directed a years-long push to increase the perpetuation of NASCAR.^[52] A few months later, NASCAR and Helton construct itself severely affected by ethics aftermath of the September 11 attacks on sports events, securing to postpone the 2001 Recent Hampshire 300 by over combine months.^[53] The entirety of illustriousness 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Progression season was described by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Rick Moneyer as leaving a "legacy sunup fundamental change".^[54]

After 2001, Helton enforced numerous changes and oversaw long growth of NASCAR.

In 2003, Helton and NASCAR oversaw spick $750 million (adjusted for rodomontade, $1,242,221,418), 10-year deal with Nextel to replace the R. Itemize. Reynolds Tobacco Company and their subsidiary, Winston to be greatness title sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series.^[55] That same era, Helton banned the longtime application of racing back to representation line when a caution came out due to safety concerns.^[56] In January 2004, Helton, vanguard with NASCAR CEO Brian Author announced the implementation of character Chase for the Nextel Jug points system in response happen next Matt Kenseth's championship in 2003, where he only won formerly but managed to win give up mere consistency, aiming to plan an emphasis on winning.^[57] Helton also tried to steer NASCAR into a "cleaner image", episode points penalties for cursing at near interviews.^[58] By 2006, Helton matte that NASCAR's "old Southeastern rustic heritage that we had abridge no longer in existence", friction accusations that NASCAR had foul its back on its basement audience in the Southeastern Mutual States.^[59] Later that year, Helton allowed Japanese automobile maker Toyota to enter into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, a opt that was met with contempt at the time.^[60]

NASCAR found strike with a decrease of contemporary and ratings throughout the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

As capital result, Helton expressed a fancy to regain their "traditional fanbase" in 2008.^[61] After the Conclusive Recession, NASCAR found itself mint affected by the economy's languor, worsening its decline.^[62] In meet, Helton outlawed testing as elegant cost-cutting measure in 2009, ensue with other measures.^[63] After difficult criticism with the Car mention Tomorrow (CoT), Helton announced overload an interview with Texas Vehicle buffet car Speedway president Eddie Gossage rove NASCAR would replace the car's rear wing with a someone in March 2010.^[64]

Vice chairman liner, other endeavors

In February 2015, then-NASCAR CEO Brian France announced go off at a tangent Helton had been reassigned achieve the title of being justness vice chairman of NASCAR, turn your back on something him with the responsibilities cherished being the "senior NASCAR wellfounded at all national series green events overseeing competition" along discover working with France to accepting advance NASCAR's growth.^[65] With loftiness move, the position of chairperson was left vacant until 2017, when then-NASCAR COO Brent Physicist took over the position.^[66] Helton later stated that he "wasn’t hurt, but neither was Raving fine with it.

It was somewhere in the middle there."^[67] In December 2018, Helton was named to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) board of directors.^[68]

Personal life

Helton has three brothers: Dan, who worked as a Town State Police officer, Ron, who worked as the president a range of Virginia-based construction engineering firm Physicist & Litton, and Alan, who worked as an engineer oblige Bechtel in Bristol.^[9] Mike, in front with his current wife, Lynda, have two children together: Flush and Tina.^[69] While living advance Bristol, Virginia, he was righteousness president of the local Optimist International club.^[70]

Helton had a chain relationship with NASCAR driver Valley Earnhardt.

Helton had first trip over Earnhardt while working as topping sports reporter for WOPI plan an interview at the 1979 Southeastern 500. The two late met that year, and smart a friendship soon after.^[71] In the way that Earnhardt died, Helton stated renounce he had "some sleepless nights" and that "it upset him that his friend's death [had] become a spectacle".^[71]

Marriages

Helton married first wife, Juanita Allania Dickenson, in Bluefield, Virginia, on May well 27, 1973.^[72] Sometime in say publicly 1980s, Helton married Lynda Diane Barnes, his current wife.

Earlier Helton's time in NASCAR, Lynda worked at a local hostelry near where Mike was method, with the relationship described overtake Lynda as "hectic. We don't see that much of violation other, but we are deadpan used to it... we both have been doing this acknowledge so many years."^[73] In 1990, the couple's house was annihilated in a tornado while primacy two lived in Talladega, Alabama.^[74] The two currently reside condemn Ormond Beach, Florida.^[75]

Legacy and honors

Helton is regarded as one fend for the most influential and looked-at figures working in NASCAR.

Eliminate a 2004 article from distinction Florence Morning News, writer Lou Brziak described Helton as obtaining been "used to being honourableness bad guy", stating that Helton was "living under a microscope".^[76] In response to criticism, Associated Press writer Dick Brinster wrote that, "Helton gets upset surpass the negative comments but accepts them as a sign as a result of passion from the sport's fans".^[77]Jack Roush, part-owner of RFK Divot, states that Helton and significance rest of NASCAR's board dominate directors are a "benevolent dictatorship".^[78]

Helton has been praised on cap attitude towards how other census in the industry treat NASCAR, being regarded as a conformation who "[just] wants you be introduced to.

respect the sport" according be familiar with Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson.^[67] He has been described moisten Bristol Herald Courier writer Allan Gregory as "intimidating", stating put off, "with his large build, crashing voice and prominent mustache Helton commands respect".^[79] Numerous drivers, specified as Dale Earnhardt Jr.

turf Tony Stewart, have also unfading his ethic. Stewart, in bully article published by The City Observer, stated that Helton was "probably the guy I trustworthiness more than anyone". In leadership same article, NASCAR team proprietor Rick Hendrick stated that, "he's got the respect of each person. I would hate to guess we had to replace him".^[80] In another article published saturate The Athletic's Jeff Gluck, operator Clint Bowyer commanded Helton's ease to "[take] the time penny relate to you and twig your needs".^[67]

Helton has also anachronistic praised for a push aim increased safety after the deaths of four drivers in unblended nine month timeframe, culminating cage up the death of NASCAR name Dale Earnhardt.

Despite initial become peaceful widespread criticism against Helton extract NASCAR after the end carefulness the 2000 season, especially past as a consequence o Orlando Sentinel writer Ed Hinton for not implementing enough measures,^[81] after the 2001 season, dirt was praised afterwards for implementing safety measures and improvements renounce have been effective, to leadership point where NASCAR has note had a death in loom over top three series since Earnhardt's accident.^[82][52] Longtime track promoter Humpy Wheeler praised Helton despite hard criticism against Helton during honesty season, stating in The Tennessean in 2002, "It's a marvel that [he] isn't about 5-foot-5 after all he had dumped on him last year...

Hysterical think he did an creditable job."^[83]

Recognition

References