Mike Helton
Mike Helton
Michael "Mike" Heltonis the vice chairman of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. He replaced Bill France, Jr. in November 2000 as the company's 3rd president. He was named Chief Operating Officer of NASCAR in February 1999...
abnormal deeper event obvious points teams
As we got deeper in the event tonight, it was obvious this was an abnormal evening. No one will be docked points because the teams responded.
allowed car current might owner road saying since team teams trend won
It has been since 1994 that a single-car team owner has won a championship. If we allowed the current trend to keep going, down the road 10 years we might be saying that it has been since 2005 than a car owner with two teams has won a title.
changes chemistry cyclical reasons slump teams whether
Certainly, they've had more reasons to go into a slump than some other teams. I think it's cyclical in our sport for teams to go up and down, whether it's chemistry changes or what have you.
argument either goes hard issue multiple nascar owner stronger teams time
An argument can be made either way, but as time goes on a stronger argument may be that an owner with multiple teams contributes to the roadblocks. That's an issue NASCAR has to take a hard look at.
including talked
talked about a lot of options, including the possibility of having to shorten the race.
act anyone attempting chooses handle manipulate outcome positions quickly race seen
Anyone who chooses to do anything that alters the outcome of the positions in this race or in the Chase, we will act quickly and severely, ... If we see anyone attempting to manipulate the outcome of this race, the Chase, or any race from here on out, we will handle it. You've never seen that here, and you never will.
air came including options pressure talked
We talked about a lot of options ... and the recommended air pressure was the one we came up with to try to get through the evening. Certainly, we talked about a lot of options ? including the possibility of having to shorten the race. But we never got to that extreme.
behavior cannot indicative interact manner sponsors tracks type
This type of behavior cannot be tolerated and is in no way indicative of the manner in which our drivers, teams, tracks and sponsors interact with the media.
asking expressing qualms questions sitting taking task
Earnhardt was unchallenged in expressing himself. He had no qualms about sitting down and taking us to task or asking us questions or voicing his opinion.
allison crucial four gave hit left minutes points shot six stretch tied
We were down with four minutes left and Allison got us going. She scored four of six points in a crucial stretch for us. Bridgette Eastman hit a shot that tied it and Stout gave us the lead.
basically start
You basically have to start over from scratch.
conference crossed guaranteed hurdle ourselves tie
We've guaranteed ourselves at least a tie for the conference championship. We crossed that big hurdle tonight.
act chase closely outcome quickly race
We are going to be closely watching. Take this as your warning: We will act very quickly and very severely if we feel anyone's out there manipulating the race outcome or The Chase outcome.
certainly evening extremely figure
Everyone that was a part of the evening certainly would like to figure out how to not have another evening like this one, ... It was extremely undesirable.