NASCAR leader accepts former teacher’s invite home

BY ALLEN GREGORY

BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

ABINGDON, Va. — The most powerful man in American motorsports was silenced Tuesday afternoon.

NASCAR president Mike Helton was more than happy to let his mentor take center stage, however.

"It’s always fun to come home," said Helton, a Bristol, Va. native.

Helton appeared at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center at the invitation of Blue Gotham, his former social studies teacher at John Battle High School.

The diverse audience featured participants in the College for Older Adults (COA), a program for persons 50 and older who share a love of learning.

According to Helton, Gotham’s daily life lessons were universal and long-lasting.

"[Gotham] is the reason I’m here today," Helton said. "She taught me how to pay attention."

Most Mountain Empire residents are familiar with Helton’s climb from John Battle and King College to his current position which he has held since 2000.
After two years of declines in television ratings and track attendance, NASCAR has made a resurgence so far this season. Entering this past weekend’s events at Martinsville Speedway, ratings were up five percent for Sprint Cup races and 15 percent for the Craftsman Truck series.

Many observers credit that rise to the back to the roots campaign launched by NASCAR officials at the start of the 2008 season.

"We would like to think it’s because we’ve delivered on the product," Helton said. "The whole effort by NASCAR was to get everything focused back on the racetrack.

"...The drivers and teams have done a great job as well."

With the revision of the championship format, the introduction of the Car of Tomorrow, the arrival of Toyota into the Sprint Cup Series and the soap opera surrounding Dale Earnhardt Jr., the NASCAR landscape has been anything but stable in recent years.

"A lot of things have been thrown at fans," Helton said. "Our effort was to get things settled down to where our industry focused back on what’s going on at the racetrack. That’s what makes NASCAR click, and that’s where we think our strengths are."

The rootsy campaign began at the season-opening Daytona 500 when all living winners of the "Great American Race" were invited back for a prerace introduction ceremony,

"Hopefully, we’re doing things correctly ... and that’s to remind NASCAR fans what it was that made them fall in love with the sport," Helton said. "A lot of changes have gone on and a lot of things have happened, but we’re still the NASCAR that attracted me and everyone else."

In his presentation Tuesday, Helton reflected on his first race at Bristol Motor Speedway when Ned Jarrett won the 1965 Volunteer 500.

"I was 12-years-old. I became hooked on racing that day," Helton said.

Helton has weathered many headline-grabbing challenges in his tenure as NASCAR president. One of the latest issues involves empty seats for the recent Sprint Cup events at BMS and Martinsville events. Both races were handicapped by inclement weather and high gas prices.

"Of course, we’re very mindful of the economy and the impact it has on all of us, particularly the ticket buyers," Helton said. "Events in different locations might be more impacted than others. And we always have the challenge of the weather this time of the year whether we’re in Bristol or Martinsville.

"Still, a lot of fans braved the elements and planned for the economy to make it work. We’re very thankful for those folks."

Another positive sign for NASCAR officials are the rave reviews for the Car of Tomorrow. One year after the COT was panned as a boondoggle, the safer and more durable car has led to more competitive Sprint Cup races so far this season.

"The [COT] is still seeing some racetracks for the first time," Helton said. "There’s a lot of progress being made on the characteristics of the car that drivers need to get used to and crew members need to get used to setting up. That process is moving very rapidly ahead."

While the pace is fast for Helton, he’s able to decompress in his hometown where the concept of roots racing thrives.

"It doesn’t get much better than this," Helton said. "Bristol is where myself and a lot of other people in the industry where exposed to the sport, and they’re now making a living in it.

"That’s important for us to remember and respect."

While Helton waited patiently, Gotham detailed the achievements that Helton compiled while a student at Battle. That long list included class president, physics club, member of the basketball team and class sweetheart for a female-oriented club.

"This [appearance] is a little bit of payback for all the years. [Gotham[ helped get me through John Battle High School and she has helped me along the way in life," Helton said.

"Our schedules don’t allow us to return home as much as we’d like, but it’s kind of hard to tell Miss Gotham no."

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