Helton leaving MRO: Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) Board Chairman, Lake Speed and CEO, Richard Mason recently announced that the ministry’s Founder and Past Senior Chaplain, Max Helton will be leaving MRO, effective April 15, 2002. Helton’s plans include working on a nation-wide marriage initiative program through the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and starting a new ministry separate from MRO which will concentrate on reaching international motorsports participants and fans. International Motorsport Services is being co-founded with Helton’s son-in-law, Daryl Barker, former business manager for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.. He also commented that working on the new Marriage Initiative program which is being headed up by the AACC will afford him the freedom to work on the international ministry at the same time. Helton and his wife, Jean founded MRO in 1988, along with NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers Darrell Waltrip, Lake Speed, Bobby Hillin, and their wives to serve the racing community. Since that time, MRO has grown to provide 15 full time chaplains to many national racing series including automobile, truck, motorcycle and powerboat racing. In a final comment, Helton stated, ” I am very pleased to have founded and worked almost 14 years with MRO. I believe God has, and will continue to work in the lives of those in the racing communities it serves.” Max and Jean Helton will remain on the Board of Directors of Motor Racing Outreach.(Motor Racing Outreach PR)(4-19-2002) (4-18-2002)
