Meeting Mike Helton

ChexOrWrex

ChexOrWrex

Ya gotta wanna
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The president of NASCAR is coming to speak at my university next week & I am making it a plan to go. I hope I actually get to meet the man & shake his hand. After his speach I'll post here what he talked about & if I was able to get face to face with him
 
It should come as no surprise that I have a ton of respect for Mike Helton. He always supported the drivers first and listened to every driver and crew member as he walked through the garage area . He made it a point to know all of their families as well. He was old school and he was one of Dale Sr.'s best friends . Lately the suits seem to be taking over the racing as they are taking over the teams . I'm sure that doesn't sit any better with Helton than it does with me .
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I like Mr. Helton. He has a hard job --- just remember, he's caught in between the teams and Brian France. If that
isn't a rock and a hard place situation, I don't know what one is.

One thing you will notice, Chex ---- Mike is a BIG man. And I don't mean fat.
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What TRL said. Being around him in the media center was mildly intimidating.

Helton isn't the evil one...i'd love to hear him speak. The brain is the one I would bring popcorn and fruit for. Only one would be consumed.
 
He works for Brian he is piece of the P.O.S.
 
I saw Jack Roush at the big EAA Air Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin last year. I was too shy to say anything to him. He's real short in person. We were standing behind the big Ford tent (those who have been to Oshkosh will know what I am talking about) and he pulled up in a '39 Ford four door.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I like Mr. Helton. He has a hard job --- just remember, he's caught in between the teams and Brian France. If that
isn't a rock and a hard place situation, I don't know what one is.

One thing you will notice, Chex ---- Mike is a BIG man. And I don't mean fat.
Click to expand...

much like big bill .....his size an reputation precedes him .......before a word is spoken on either side !
 
What an experience! Mike is actually a really down to earth fella. He kept things very casual & complimented the university's campus many times. He spoke briefly about his personal life experiences and then opened the final 45 minutes into a q&a session. I was the 2nd person to ask a question and I asked him the reasoning behind scaling down the horsepower next year. He mentioned economics. He wants to keep the costs of the engines as affordable as possible for the teams and how scaling the engines back makes the racing engines more relevant to the stock engines - just as the frame of the new car is designed to be recognized as similar to on the lot cars. He also said that the new engines could be run 2-3 times before having to tear them down.
Interesting fact - the NASCAR media team in Charlotte has also played around with a 3D version of races for households with 3D televisions. There will be a BETA version this coming all star race.
The air Titan 2 will be revealed at M'ville this weekend and it's just a pickup truck with all of the supplies needed in the bed. Supposed to cut the drying time by another half hour.
A student asked about how NASCAR is evolving to add women into the sport and he replied "that's a tough question. It honestly comes with time and resources available".

He made it evident that he is just a much a fan of the sport as we are and it hard on him to make business decisions while keeping the fan in him on the back burner to stay unbiased. Overall a cool gentleman. I was unable to ask for a photo afterwards because he had to leave immediately to catch a flight to virginia.

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chex....glad ya enjoyed it.
good ya could see what nascar honchos are like .....just regular guys ....like everybody else.
 
Pretty cool chex but learn how to use the rotation thingy on your computer and straighten your images you fool.
 
reck said:
Pretty cool chex but learn how to use the rotation thingy on your computer and straighten your images you fool.
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They're sideways? I loaded them from my phone & they're fine on here :confused: My b
 
ChexOrWrex said:
They're sideways? I loaded them from my phone & they're fine on here :confused: My b
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No biggie my padawan. ;)

When viewing the forum through your phone, you can see them upright. I just tested it.

When on a desktop, you see 'em sideways. Odd
 
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