Two of NASCAR’s most powerful figures have been given new roles.
The sanctioning body has announced that Mike Helton, president of the sport since 2000, has been named Vice Chairman. Additionally, NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer Brent Dewar has been named to the sport’s Board of Directors.
Helton will continue to serve as senior official at all national series events (Sprint Cup, Xfinity Series, and Camping World Truck Series) and will also stay on the Board of Directors.
He began working with the sanctioning body in 1994 as a vice president for competition. In 1999, he was elevated to senior vice president and chief operating officer before succeeding Bill France Jr. as president in 2000.
“Mike Helton’s steady hand and decades of experience in every facet of our business have made him a close, trusted advisor to me and my family, and his overall impact on NASCAR cannot be overstated,” NASCAR Chairman Brian France said in a release.
“With a strong team ready to take on more day-to-day management responsibilities, I’m pleased to now have Mike in a role that will allow us to utilize his unique skills in advancing key priorities for the future of the industry.”
As for Dewar, he now assumes additional day-to-day operational responsibilities in racing development, innovation, and work with the sport’s partners and shareholders.
Dewar became NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer in late 2013 following a career of almost three decades at General Motors. Prior to joining NASCAR’s executive team, he had also been a consultant for NASCAR on competition aspects such as rules, penalties, officiating, and inspecting.
“Adding someone as talented and experienced as Brent Dewar to our board will be highly beneficial to our company and the industry overall,” France said in the same release. “Brent’s operational expertise already has made a big impact and his understanding of how our sport works from multiple perspectives will bring immediate value to how we operate and future initiatives.”
