NASCAR yesterday promoted President MIKE HELTON to Vice Chair and added COO BRENT DEWAR to its BOD. Helton, who has held his current role since '00, will remain on the BOD and continue to be the senior official at all national series events, overseeing competition. Dewar will assume additional day-to-day responsibilities in racing development and innovation, and he will work with NASCAR partners and stakeholders (NASCAR). In Daytona Beach, Clayton park noted both promotions are "effective immediately." Both Helton and Dewar "will continue to be based" at NASCAR HQ in Daytona Beach. NASCAR VP/Integrated Marketing Communications DAVID HIGDON said that the series "will no longer have a president" (NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.com, 2/9). SPORTING NEWS' Jeff Owens noted Helton originally took on the role of president in '00 as BILL FRANCE JR. "was nearing retirement" and BRIAN FRANCE was promoted to Chair & CEO. Yesterday's announcement "continues a series of executive moves by NASCAR in the past two years," including the addition of STEVE PHELPS as Exec VP & CMO and STEVE O'DONNELL as Exec VP & Chief Racing Development Officer (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 2/9).
