Helton Honored: NASCAR president Mike Helton was back home Thursday afternoon as John Battle High School honored the former Trojan. Helton, a 1971 Battle graduate, spoke to the student body during a back to school pep rally held on the Trojans’ football field. At the conclusion of the assembly he was presented with a plaque recognizing him as a distinguished alumni. The Bristol Virginia native wished the students good luck on the coming school year and sprinkled in a few tips during his speech. And he also addressed NASCAR’s report on the death of Dale Earnhardt, which was released Tuesday.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-24-2001)
