View Humpy Wheeler
H. A. “Humpy” Wheeler
By Gregg Leary
Category:NASCAR -> Sprint Cup
Has been called the “P. T. Barnum of racing promoters.”
Since Humpy has boxed perhaps he is the “Don King of racing promoters.”
President and General Manager Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Grew up in Belmont…6 miles from the original ¾ mile Charlotte Fairgrounds dirt track
Raced from age 15-23 and found out “I was one of the world’s worst race car drivers.”
Starting in 1960, his senior year in college he started promoting races… he was operating 3 speedways and handling advertising for Charlotte Motor Speedway
1963 started working for Firestone…did that for seven years…Indy and Formula One.
In 1975 Bruton Smith hired him at Charlotte and he’s been there ever since.
Lowe’s was the first superspeedway with condominiums, lights, a Speedway Club, office complex…171,000 seats.
Humpy said, “Everyone is put on earth for a reason…mine is entertaining people.”
Wheeler was a Golden Gloves boxer.
While playing football at University of South Carolina, he served as apprentice to Darlington PR person, Russ Catlin.
Humpy’s Career Highlight was the first sellout of the 1976 World 600 when he brought in Janet Guthrie…the first woman in a major automobile race. Women “flooded” the place and they ran out of water halfway through the race. He had fire truck pumpers bring in water.
Humpy admires Richard Petty, Richard Childress, Ken Squier, Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, Steven Spielberg.
Humpy studies history…in ancient Rome, Hippodromes for chariot races had the same grandstand configuration as Charlotte…luxury suites for the emperor…souvenirs, concessions.
Famous for his pre-race military extravaganzas…dancing bears…Legends cars and Thunder Roadsters…school bus races…
Charlotte had an elevator…the first at a racetrack in the USA
Started “The Winston” All Star race in 1985
Lighted it for “One Hot Night” in 1992
Used to hitchhike to the old Charlotte Fairgrounds dirt track
Even though he had boxed and played football…a driver once shot at him with a .38…he was hit in the head with a wrench…racing was much tougher in the “good old days.”
The condos at the track wouldn’t sell…until David Letterman made a joke about them on his show…then it appeared in the Charlotte Observer and the Wall Street Journal…they sold 28 units in 7 months.