On the heels of President Barack Obama’s historic inauguration as the President of the United States, NASCAR President Mike Helton has announced his plans to hold a lavish inauguration ceremony to kick of the 2009 NASCAR season at Daytona’s Speed Week.  Documents obtained by Black Flagged Online reveal that Helton’s plans include a performance by his favorite jug band, the recitation of a favorite poem of Helton’s that he read written on the wall of a bathroom stall at a Tampa Florida truck stop and a shit ton of fireworks.  The planned event would be the first of its kind as the NASCAR President generally takes office with little fanfare.  Critics of Helton and his rule over NASCAR question the holding of such an event when the economy is sliding.

“Race teams are struggling.  Fans are struggling.  Ticket sales are declining and race teams are being forced to merge or close their doors entirely,” said Helton critic and Democratic nominee for the NASCAR Presidency Dave S. Jefferson.  “I find it appalling that Helton is spending hundreds of dollars to celebrate himself.  It exemplifies all that is wrong with NASCAR today.”

But Helton supporters don’t see it that way.

“This is a truly historic event for NASCAR and we want to treat it as such,” said noted NASCAR historian Archibald Stitts.  “President Helton was elected to a next term by a stunning 100% of the vote in an election where not one vote was cast. 

Opponent’s of President Helton have been highly critical with the secrecy of the Helton administration and argue that Helton’s rule over NASCAR is not a presidency as much as it is a dictatorship because of the lack of a popular vote. 

“President Helton is appointed not elected,” said Jefferson.  “That’s not democracy.  He is a dictator.”

Helton does not object to the characterization that he is a dictator.  A spokesman for Helton claimed that “dictator” is simply a term that the President has been called many times before only with “tator” added at the end. 

Stitts agrees with the assessment that Helton is not an elected leader of NASCAR but he does not believe that detracts from the validity of Helton’s rule. 

“This isn’t a democracy, this is NASCAR,” said Stitts.

A record number of well wishers are expected to pack the stands for the swearing in ceremony that is scheduled to take place before the green flag of this year’s Daytona 500.  Tickets for the ceremony are expected to be in high demand and can only be obtained through a licensed ticket broker or scalper outside the Daytona International Speedway.