Motorsports

Helton's aim for now is to keep status quo

By Brant James, Times Staff Writer
Published February 17, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH - NASCAR has heard you, president Mike Helton said. It respects you, and in some ways it's really afraid of ticking you off.

He said that's why the sport decided to shelve any potential changes, unless in an emergency, to the way it races or presents races in the near future. A five-year period full of upheaval - three different title sponsors for the top series, a playoff system, new car and new television package - has been plenty, Helton said, for the hardened NASCAR fan to absorb. And the series was sensing unrest.

"We don't have our heads stuck in the sand. We read letters to the editor," he said. "We read e-mails. ...We try to respond and to explain the issues people have, but it's evident. We're not walking around blinded by the fact that, 'Oh, everything we do is right.' That's not the case. We're honestly and sincerely listening to the stakeholders of the sport, and the biggest group of stakeholders the sport has is the fans."

VILLENEUVE OUT ALREADY: Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula One world champion, will be replaced in Sprint Cup after not securing sponsors and missing the Daytona 500.

Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner will alternate driving the No.27 Toyota Camry for several races, Bill Davis Racing said in a statement. Villeneuve might return if he can find a sponsor, the team said.

"We know that Jacques has the talent and the desire to be in NASCAR, and are diligently working on a long-term relationship with him," team owner Bill Davis said in the statement.

Villeneuve, 36, debuted in the then-Nextel Cup series in October at Talladega, finishing 21st. He crashed Thursday in the Gatorade Duels, ending his bid for a spot on the grid for today.

KENSETH SEARCHING: Matt Kenseth, who starts 28th today, was left shrugging his shoulders after more than an hour of effort in Saturday's practice.

Is his Ford ready to contend?

"We'll be able to tell you (today), I guess," the 2003 Cup champion said. "We were just working on our handling. We've been quite a bit off, and we seemed to find a couple of things that helped it. We've got to put it all together."

Times wires contributed to this report.

[Last modified February 16, 2008, 22:12:32]