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Tyson soon will face Indiana hearing on probation violation
  Copyright © 1999 Associated Press  
 
WASHINGTON (February 10) - Mike Tyson's probation officer says he will ask an Indiana judge next month to consider punishing the heavyweight fighter following his sentencing in Maryland for assaulting two motorists. 
"There's a feeling back here in Indiana that he needs to be held accountable for the violation of probation," George Walker, chief of probation in Marion County, Ind., told The Washington Post. "I can't say whether what Maryland does satisfies that or not. That will be up to the court." 
Walker said Wedmesday he will file paperwork after March 7 asking Marion County Superior Court Judge Patricia Gifford for a hearing on whether Tyson violated his probation on a 1991 rape conviction in Indiana. 
Tyson, 32, was sentenced by a Maryland judge last week to a year in prison on a no-contest plea to kicking one motorist and punching another after a minor three-car accident in Gaithersburg, Md., last August. 
Under the Maryland sentence, he will be eligible in 60 days to be moved to a pre-release center, where he could train during the day and, with good behavior, could be released from custody seven months from now. 
Tyson served three years of a six-year term in Indiana for the rape conviction. His probation for that crime was to have expired next month. 
Paul Kemp, Tyson's lawyer in the Maryland case, told the Post he is considering whether to file an appeal of the sentence there or asking the judge to reconsider the sentence. 

Bill France Jr. cedes control of NASCAR
 
Copyright © 1999 Associated Press  
 
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 10) - For the first time since the France family founded NASCAR a half century ago, an outsider will run the circuit's daily operations. NASCAR president Bill France Jr. turned over control to Mike Helton on Wednesday.
Helton, the vice president of competition the past five years, becomes senior vice president and chief operating officer. France said he doesn't consider Helton an outsider anymore, making the decision a simple one. 
"He's levelheaded, he thinks before he acts," France said of Helton, who has worked for his family since 1986. 
"We've always tried to operate here with the philosophy of looking at short-term benefits vs. long-term negatives and vice versa. Mike has a great understanding of that." 
Helton said the move did not foreshadow a big change in the way NASCAR operates. And he emphasized that France will still be president of the circuit and working across the hall from him. 
"The most important thing that everyone should understand is that there's nothing broken in the system," Helton said. "There's not necessarily a need for change in direction as much as there is for continual management of NASCAR as it goes forward." 
The front-office move is the first of several that are expected to help NASCAR manage its growth. 
The arrangement may take some getting used to. It was France's late father, Bill France Sr., who founded the circuit in 1947 and had a heavy hand in the decision-making until he retired in 1972. 
Eventually, France Jr.'s son, Brian France, is expected to take over. Meanwhile, the 66-year-old France said he has no immediate intentions of retiring. 
Helton, 45, got into racing in 1980 as public relations director at Atlanta International Raceway. Since starting work for the France family, he has served as director of promotions at Daytona and general manager and president at Talladega Superspeedway. 
"He has a unique experience of being involved in all aspects of the sport, including marketing, PR, licensing and most importantly, our core business, which is racing," France said. 
Helton's promotion formalized a chain of command that began taking form a few years ago. 
"Mike has been in the saddle, he's got total credibility and respect out there in the garage area," France said. "When you start talking to race teams out there, that's going to be your ultimate answer and I'm totally confident in how that's going to work." 
Before practice for Sunday's Daytona 500 began, the good reviews began streaming in. 
"Mike Helton will do a great job," said Roush Racing owner Jack Roush. "Mike has got maturity, he's got wisdom, he's certainly embroiled in France's philosophy of stock car racing, so it will be fine." 
Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt agreed. 
"I think it's a good move," he said. "The business has grown so big, it's hard for any one man to cover it all. But I don't think that there's a decision that goes on that Mr. France isn't in on. I'm sure he's not going anywhere any time soon." 
Earnhardt said Helton earned his respect in his four years dealing directly with the competitors. 
"He's got great rapport with people in the garage area and he's learned a lot from Mr. France about making logical decisions," Earnhardt said. "He's a fair man." 
France said Helton will have final say in almost every decision that comes out of NASCAR, "and in most cases, he'll be leading them." 
That doesn't mean, however that NASCAR has seen the last of its president. 
"It depends on how the fish are biting, to some extent," France said. "But in all seriousness, if Mike thinks he needs some help, I'd be happy to." 

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