Mike Helton
Encyclopedia
Michael Helton is the president of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing
(NASCAR). He replaced Bill France, Jr.
in November 2000 as the company's third president. He was named the Chief Operating Officer
of NASCAR in February 1999.
. After graduating from John S. Battle High School
in Washington County, Virginia
, where he was senior class president, he attended King College
in Bristol, Tennessee
, home of the Bristol Motor Speedway
. He majored in accounting and minored in math displaying an aptitude for numbers. He was awarded an Honorary Degree from King College in May 2000.
Following college, Helton worked as an accountant plus supplemented his income by refereeing football and basketball. A fellow referee would introduce him to a small local AM radio station where he become the station's sports director. One of Helton's favorite assignments as sports director in the mid-1970s were the frequent NASCAR events in his area. By 1980, Helton became a public relations director at Atlanta Motor Speedway
.
in 1986. After eighteen months, Helton became the general manager at Talladega Superspeedway
. He became vice president of International Speedway Corporation
in two years and was promoted to president of the Talladega track in 1989. Helton held that position until January 1994, when he became the new vice president for competition for NASCAR taking over for Les Richter
.
Helton was named senior vice president and chief operating officer, in February 1999, and became the first person outside the France family to manage NASCAR's day-to-day operations. A year later, Helton was named President of NASCAR and sits on its five-member board of directors.
NASCAR signed a new network television deal near the end of 1999. NASCAR's premiere event, the Daytona 500
, was the first race broadcast under that deal in 2001 but it was marred by Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s death on its final lap. Helton's announcement after the race was nationally televised, "This is understandably one of the toughest announcements we've ever had to make. ... After the accident on Turn 4 of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt." The tragedy marked the beginning of a seven-year design program within NASCAR to develop the Car of Tomorrow
. This effort was championed by Helton to increase driver safety and was implemented for the 2008 season.
On race day Helton occupies an observation point referred to as "control" where he and NASCAR officials observe the events. Rulings are made by this group to maintain the integrity of the sport.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
(NASCAR). He replaced Bill France, Jr.
Bill France, Jr.
William Clifton France , nicknamed "Bill Jr." and "Little Bill," was an American motorsports executive who served from 1972 to 2000 as the head of NASCAR, the sanctioning body of United States-based stock car racing. He succeeded the founder of NASCAR, his father Bill France, Sr., as its head...
in November 2000 as the company's third president. He was named the Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of NASCAR in February 1999.
Early life
Helton is from Bristol, VirginiaBristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
. After graduating from John S. Battle High School
John S. Battle High School
John S. Battle High School is a high school located in the Southwest portion of Virginia in Washington County. The school was named after the Governor John S. Battle. It was built in 1959. There have been many additions. The Mason building is in the Northwest quadrant of the school. In the 1970s,...
in Washington County, Virginia
Washington County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,103 people, 21,056 households, and 14,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 22,985 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
, where he was senior class president, he attended King College
King College
King College is a private, comprehensive college located in Bristol, Tennessee. Founded in 1867, King is independently governed with covenant affiliations to the Presbyterian Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ....
in Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
, home of the Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. He majored in accounting and minored in math displaying an aptitude for numbers. He was awarded an Honorary Degree from King College in May 2000.
Following college, Helton worked as an accountant plus supplemented his income by refereeing football and basketball. A fellow referee would introduce him to a small local AM radio station where he become the station's sports director. One of Helton's favorite assignments as sports director in the mid-1970s were the frequent NASCAR events in his area. By 1980, Helton became a public relations director at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
.
Racing career
In 1980, Helton began at Atlanta International Raceway and was promoted to general manager in 1985. He joined the management team at Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in 1986. After eighteen months, Helton became the general manager at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. He became vice president of International Speedway Corporation
International Speedway Corporation
International Speedway Corporation is a corporation whose primary business is the ownership and management of NASCAR race tracks. ISC was founded by NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. in 1953 for the construction of Daytona International Speedway and in 1999 they merged with Penske Motorsports to...
in two years and was promoted to president of the Talladega track in 1989. Helton held that position until January 1994, when he became the new vice president for competition for NASCAR taking over for Les Richter
Les Richter
Leslie Alan Richter was a Los Angeles Rams National Football League football player, former head of operations for NASCAR and president of the Riverside International Raceway. He played in 8 Pro Bowls as a linebacker. Richter was born in Fresno, California...
.
Helton was named senior vice president and chief operating officer, in February 1999, and became the first person outside the France family to manage NASCAR's day-to-day operations. A year later, Helton was named President of NASCAR and sits on its five-member board of directors.
NASCAR signed a new network television deal near the end of 1999. NASCAR's premiere event, the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, was the first race broadcast under that deal in 2001 but it was marred by Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s death on its final lap. Helton's announcement after the race was nationally televised, "This is understandably one of the toughest announcements we've ever had to make. ... After the accident on Turn 4 of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt." The tragedy marked the beginning of a seven-year design program within NASCAR to develop the Car of Tomorrow
Car of Tomorrow
The Car of Tomorrow, sometimes called CoT or "Car of Today", is the car style for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Larger and boxier than the design it replaced, the Car of Tomorrow is safer, costs less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup...
. This effort was championed by Helton to increase driver safety and was implemented for the 2008 season.
On race day Helton occupies an observation point referred to as "control" where he and NASCAR officials observe the events. Rulings are made by this group to maintain the integrity of the sport.