NASCAR Realigns, Drivers React To Tuesday’s Announcement

NASCAR officials announced Tuesday afternoon a realignment of its upper management. Mike Helton will become NASCAR President, while Brian France and George Pyne have been promoted to new titles. In addition, a five-member board of directors has been named to work towards the future of the sanctioning organization.

HERE IS WHAT SEVERAL COMPETITORS HAD TO SAY IN REACTION TO THE NEWS:

JEREMY MAYFIELD, #12 MOBIL 1 TAURUS:

"If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backwards. Whether it’s a team or NASCAR or a track or whoever, in this sport there is no such thing as standing still. Those guys at NASCAR are moving forward and looking ahead all the time, so a move like this is a big one but an important one.

"It’s pretty obvious all of these moves were thought out for a long time. When somebody puts that much thought and time into it, they have a pretty good feeling about things. If NASCAR is for it, it’s going to take a lot for me not to be for it. That’s not a political thing. I mean, I’m like a lot of drivers - I have a lot of faith in what these guys do.

"We’ll have to look and see how things operate with the new setup, but I think things look awfully good for the future."

STERLING MARLIN, #40 COORS LIGHT DODGE:

"Those boys in Daytona are always moving and always looking ahead. Sometimes it’s stuff happening in the background, and sometimes it’s stuff right out front. This would be one of those ‘out-front’ type of things. It might be more visible and it might be bigger-time moves than some things, but it’s all still part of the process.

"It’s not like everything they touch turns to gold or nothing like that, but they do usually do the right thing. I can think of a lot of things they did and when it was first announced, people would think, ‘Oh, man! They’ve really stepped in it now!’ And then we’d turn around later and realize it was the best thing they could have done.

"I’ve been around since I crewed Daddy’s cars (Coo Coo Marlin) as a teenager, so I have some time in this sport. I’ve been chewed out by Bill France, Sr. and Bill France, Jr. I’m sure, sooner or later, I’ll add Mike Helton to the list - or he’ll add me to the list - and make it a trifecta on NASCAR Presidents."

SHAWNA ROBINSON, Planning Move To Limited Winston Cup Schedule In 2001:

"Everybody at NASCAR has been awfully good to me over the years but, like in any other business, you have to make changes. People get older, people want to do different things, people have different lives they have to lead. Like everybody else, I’ve been really worried about Bill France but I’ve never worried about the sanctioning body. I know it’s strong and these moves will do nothing but make it stronger.

"There is going to be change. Things just change. Twenty years ago, nobody would have thought there could be a full-time woman driver in the sport. Twenty years from now, maybe they’ll think about the first woman driver to win a NASCAR Winston Cup race, and I plan on that name being Shawna Robinson. Twenty years ago, nobody would have thought about anybody other than someone with the last name of ‘France’ being a president of NASCAR. Twenty years from now, they might refer to Mike Helton as ‘the first.’

"These are good moves and interesting moves, and good for us all."

JOHN ANDRETTI, #43 CHEERIOS DODGE:

"Obviously, we’ve all been concerned with Bill’s health but we know he has been keeping an eye on us. Still, Mike (Helton) has been a great person to lead the competitors. He’s one of those guys who, no matter what he thinks of what you’re saying, listens to you. He might not agree with you but you always feel like you’ve had the chance to make your point. And like Bill France, he knows how to look at things to make it the best he can for everybody.

"Mike has big shoes to fill but he has done an outstanding job so far. This is a natural progression and, to me, validates the security of NASCAR by making such a strong move with a guy who can be hands-on. Bill is still going to be around and that’s great, but I think there is a pretty good comfort level with Mike too."