Chat Transcript: Mike Helton

November 14, 2001
3:00 PM EST (2000 GMT)

[Mike_Helton] Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you, and thank you for being fans of the sport. It has been a complicated year and we are more than grateful now than ever for the support of the fans and hope that we can live up to your expectations, so fire away!

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [jrull] Mike, thanks for giving the fans such a great year in racing under your direction! My question: Is there anymore room for growth in the series for new markets like the Pacific Northwest in the future?

[Mike_Helton] If there was a facility that would be developed up there, certainly it would have some interest to us. The complication in that part of the country is the small window of opportunity with the weather. If you looked at the coverage area of NASCAR's three big touring series, you see a bit of emptiness in that part of the country. What is keeping one from being there is the small window of opportunities with the weather.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [NascarBarbie8] I'll keep it short and simple... after the accident in the pits last weekend... and with the head injury... has NASCAR considered implementing a helmet rule on pit crew members like the IRL has?

[Mike_Helton] We have been looking at helmets on pit road for some time and we have been talking with and working with crews and teams. The No. 32 team uses helmets during pit stops. The challenges the crewmembers talk to us about are visibility and mobility.

We are also faced with the enforcement issue on when it is OK to go over the wall without a helmet, or if it is OK at all. We have been talking about it for some time and we will step up the conversation process and address it hopefully within a reasonable amount of time.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [StewartsNHGirl] Mike, does NASCAR and its drivers really know how cold it's going to be up here in New Hampshire next weekend and why was the schedule not shuffled around to accommodate for the weather?

[Mike_Helton] First of all, I don't think anyone knows what the weather will be like until we get to that day. Fortunately the projections shows it dry and not unreasonably cold. In regards to why we ended up on this day, as we all recall that was a complicated week and when we made the decision we were faced with "when do you race?"

We discussed not racing at all, but that is not how we do things. We announced a 36-race Championship season and we intended on doing that like other sports. We needed to that in a fashion that was in a reasonable manner. It didn't seem right to cancel due to the fans and supporters of the race, so we looked at running it in the middle of the week, but that didn't seem reasonable to the entire garage area.

The first opportunity that existed was the Friday after Thanksgiving, so hopefully we will accomplish that on that Friday, the 23rd of November.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [JRGIRL] Mike Helton, will NASCAR be allowing coolers at all tracks next season?

[Mike_Helton] The issue of allowing coolers, or what shape and sizes that they can take into facilities, was determined by the facilities. The safety and wellbeing of fans is a concern for major sporting events, not just NASCAR events. I think the facilities are trying to be accommodating, but at the same time, also address the safety and security issues that we are now faced with.

The ultimate issue is that the racetracks make the decisions on what fans can and cannot take into the gates with them. The access may change and we work with them to make it as reasonable as possible with them. Even some heightened awareness was made in the garage area and pit road where our vehicles sit in order to be sure we had the safest environment possible. I think these steps are all part of that.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [KPRules!!! ] With the increased competitiveness and sheer number of drivers coming into NASCAR, are you considering tweaking the current provisional qualifying system and replacing this "welfare" giveaway with something more in line with the current state of NASCAR?

[Mike_Helton] First of all, it is not a "welfare" giveaway. It is a program designed to help someone who competes every week, but is having a bad week. The evolution of that process is that we have 7 provisionals in a 43-car field. We will keep looking at it and tweaking it, but we will not change anything for the '02 season.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [Rustyfan2] Mike, where do you see NASCAR in 5 or 10 years from now?

[Mike_Helton] Our first and foremost effort for the future is to make the racing as safe as possible but keep the competition level to where the fans have expected from us. Beyond those points we want to take benefit of exposure opportunities to expose the sport better and help grow the sport. Our concentrated efforts around those areas 5 years from now hopefully produce those results.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [Vijen] There is a strong belief among racing fans that the cautions called at Homestead for "track debris" were really called to keep the race "close and exciting" because of past complaints of boring races there. How do you feel about that?

[Mike_Helton] Our caution periods are for real reasons. Debris is an issue we are faced with during races, for punctured tires or broken radiators, and if there is a piece of debris in the racing groove, we have to go under yellow to go pick it up.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [bgst24fn] I believe that despite a huge amount of adversity and tragedy, NASCAR has had a great year. Do you personally count this year a great success?

[Mike_Helton] Yes. The level of competition that has produced 15 different race winners and the increased awareness of exposure from the new TV package with FOX, NBC and Turner has been very successful and it has proved to be a big asset for the future of this sport. The fans have continued to support the sport and that will be a big highlight for 2001, and while we have had our challenges, I also feel that 2001 has been very successful.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [Kai] Mike, what is the likelihood that NASCAR may run an event in Canada (or Japan)? Even a non-points race or exhibition?

[Mike_Helton] Currently our schedule at home here is very busy, but NASCAR does have other tours or divisions that it can look at doing international-style events with, and we will continue to look at those opportunities. In the meantime, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series has a pretty full plate here in America.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [vijen] Do you think that having the chief people of NASCAR also owning a large stake in ISC is a conflict of interest? If not, why not?

[Mike_Helton] No, I don't. Before coming to work for NASCAR, I worked at racetracks not owned by ISC and felt a great benefit from the principals of NASCAR because they understood what promoters needed for the elements of the sport to put the events on, and that has been a benefit to the sport.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [Rescuericky] Dear Mr. Helton, with other sports naming their championship trophies after legends in their respective sports, has NASCAR considered naming the Championship trophy after Dale Earnhardt or even Richard Petty?

[Mike_Helton] We have a lot of great character in this sport over its entire history and we will have a lot in the future. We have looked at honoring drivers like Richard Petty, and even more so this year with Dale Earnhardt. We want to honor their efforts in the sport and things have occurred at different venues, museums and racetracks. We will continue to look at a symbol or tribute on a national level with the series itself. In the meantime there is a lot of other character in the sport that we are proud of.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [TLFan] Mike, is there any consideration of maybe using smaller engines and removing the restrictor plates at Talladega and Daytona?

[Mike_Helton] We have looked at that as an option. Without these plates the racecars are producing 600-700 HP, and with it is like 450 HP. A smaller engine does not reduce the HP as much as you would think and we would still need a plate. For us to make smaller motors would also cost the teams much more to make the engines and parts, so currently the plates are the best option.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [Mr] Mr. Helton, will there be any significant changes in NASCAR'S 2002 season?

[Mike_Helton] No, I don't think so. We are moving the season ending around a bit. We will end it in Miami, where we want more consistent weather. We will move up Atlanta and we have to shuffle around for July and Mother's Day Weekend, but other than that it will be very similar to '01.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [TurboPenguin22] Is NASCAR looking at adding or subtracting tracks or events from the schedule form next year? I know many drivers expressed concern for the length of the season.

[Mike_Helton] We have no plans on adding or taking events in '02. We talked a lot about the schedule we are running this year, and now at the end of it the consensus has been that it was a challenge but it was not as bad as folks thought it would be. Our challenges were elsewhere, and we don't have any plans on adding or taking away events for next year.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [vijen] There have been several early to mid-season rules changes this year. They include removing bump stops, and adding to the Dodge air dam. I can understand having to make rules changes regarding safety, but why is it necessary to change car configurations mid-season when teams have already tested and invested a large amount of time and money in their cars?

[Mike_Helton] We make rules changes to maintain the competition on the track. We have said before that we understand the complications on making the changes to cars or engines and we try to be sensitive to that impact, but we want to maintain the competitiveness on the racetrack that fans have come to expect. We will also make rule changes when we deem it necessary to stop a trend that is not good for the sport. Where the current rule may not prevent it, and if we see a trend going in a direction we have a concern over, a new rule may be necessary to stop it.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [greg] Mr. Helton, who is the best driver you personally have ever witnessed on a racetrack?

[Mike_Helton] That is a tough question to answer because I have seen so many great drivers perform over the years, from Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and David Pearson, up to today's drivers who's talent really surprises me. To me, I would have to say Dale Earnhardt because of all the amazing things he did.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [rocket288] Mr. Helton, let me start off by saying how much I appreciate you as a leader. Your shoulders have had to bear a mighty big load all year long. I applaud you and NASCAR for mandating the HANS or Hutchens device. My question to you is when will the R & D center in Concord start "testing," and will the findings of the center have a direct impact on the 2002 rules for competition in NASCAR?

[Mike_Helton] We have been fortunate enough to have already made some headway in Concord with different opportunities, but the biggest knowledge gain has been coming from the efforts we have been doing with the University of Nebraska, which started with softwall technology and now analyzing car crashes. We have modified a lot of different elements as we have learned them and as the center begins to tune up and go towards major issues, hopefully we can see some results in '02, but certainly in '03.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [Robyn] Can we get an update on the injuries to the Rudd crew?

[Mike_Helton] I understand that Bobby is improving hourly. He has a serious injury and he is still in the hospital in Miami and we all hope he continues to go in that direction. The other crewmembers were released like Monday morning on the clock and will be very sore for a while, and our thoughts and prayers are with John and Bobby. So far the news is in the right direction for Bobby.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [rainbow3184] Are there any indications of what will be done with the No. 3?

[Mike_Helton] As you can imagine we have had a great amount of discussion internally with Richard, Teresa, and input from the fans on what to do with the No. 3. In the history of the sport, we have never retired a number, but naturally we haven't been faced with these types of situations before either with what Dale and Richard created. We continue to discuss what may or may not be done. We do not have plans on retiring the number, but we continue to talk to Richard and Teresa on what to do. Richard is still licensed to the No. 3 and in '02 we will discuss again what we should do.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [Mebo] Mike, do you really own a Harley? If so, what kind and who do you ride with? Also, when do you have time to ride?

[Mike_Helton] Yes, I do own Harleys. I have several of them. I am very proud of the bikes. They range from Roadkings to Softails to a couple of custom bikes. I don't get the chance to ride like I used. I have been driving for 30 years, and I did ride with Kyle Petty a couple of times and I have driven on some other trips with guys in the garage. I wish I could drive more often, but this is the way life goes!

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [qman_88] Mr. Helton, do fans have any influence on the decisions made by NASCAR and if so, what is the best way to have our voice heard by the association?

[Mike_Helton] First of all, fans have a great influence because we understand that there is not much we do without the fans. There is a high level of interest in what the fans think and feel like. As you can imagine, in a lot of cases, a situation can arise that we have not had a chance to explain it well enough and sometimes it can be confusing to fans. If we could sit face to face, it might be different. The best way to contact us is through NASCAR.com or us here in Daytona. As far as an event, they want to make the experience great for the fans at the racetrack as well.

[NASCAR_Host3] Question from: [deeremobile] Is NASCAR going to be more strict on trying to stop the dangerous "Bump and Run" used by aggressive drivers, which this year has caused some serious crashes?

[Mike_Helton] NASCAR is naturally concerned about aggressiveness on the racetrack, but at the same time, we need to police the sport so that it does not cause the driver to worry about not passing a car, because that is what our sport is about.

As far as bump drafting like at Talladega, we have hopefully addressed those issues for '02 so it doesn't create the same environment that they created this year. As for other tracks, we try to handle each incident as if it was a racing incident or if it was an intentional act to spin someone out. We do have an interest to make sure it is close and competitive, but not too aggressive.

[NASCAR_Host3] Mr. Helton, thank you! That's all the time we have this afternoon. Do you have any final thoughts?

[Mike_Helton] I speak for all of NASCAR when I say that we are very sincerely grateful to NASCAR fans. In these particular times it is not just being proud that you follow our sport and have strong opinions of the different characters or makes and models on the track, but also very proud of the fans as they support our country, the leadership, and our military during these times. I want to say from NASCAR's perspective, thank you for following the sport, and even though you have strong opinions, we appreciate them. I hope everyone has a great holiday season. We have two more races to go and I am looking forward to '02.