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Aug 20, 2025
Longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway president and general manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler has passed away at the age of 86.
Wheeler was recognized as one of the most well-known and innovative promoters in motorsports. In May, he was named the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR alongside the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame class.
“Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport,” Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO said in a statement. “During his decades leading Charlotte Motor Speedway, Humpy transformed the fan experience through his creativity, bold ideas and tireless passion. His efforts helped expand NASCAR’s national footprint, cement Charlotte as a must-visit racing and entertainment complex and recently earned him the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s prestigious Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
“On behalf of NASCAR and the France family, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Wheeler family and all who were touched by his remarkable life and legacy.”
“Charlotte Motor Speedway was blessed to have a leader in Humpy Wheeler who can only be described as ONE of a kind,” Charlotte Motor Speedway stated in a release.
“For more than 30 years, Humpy was a promoter’s promoter at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Alongside our founder Bruton Smith, Humpy pushed the speedway to new and greater heights – establishing the famed 1.5-mile superspeedway as not only the most innovative facility in NASCAR for fan, partner and competitor amenities, but also one of the most progressive in all of sports.”
Among his most notable contributions to the race-day experience were his dramatic pre-race ceremonies and stunt shows. Charlotte Motor Speedway also took several innovative steps, such as bringing night racing to the 1.5-mile facility ahead of the 1992 NASCAR All-Star Race.
“Humpy’s engaging smile and flair for promotion were legendary, and his impact on every stakeholder in motorsports will be long-lasting,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Often described as the ‘P.T. Barnum of motorsports,’ Humpy not only made his mark with publicity, but also with a laser-focus toward the fans.
“He would often tell his staff to pay attention to ‘the three Ts – tickets, traffic and toilets’ in order to ensure fans have the best possible experience. He would also say it was our job to put a little ‘technicolor in people’s black-and-white lives.’”
While best known for his promotional prowess, Wheeler was also pivotal in helping countless others gain their footing in the sport.
“Humpy was well known for mentoring and assisting hundreds, if not thousands, of people throughout the NASCAR industry,” said NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley in a statement. “Among them were the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt and Landmark Award recipient Janet Guthrie, both of whom he supported at the initial stages of their NASCAR careers.
“I count myself among the many he mentored,” Kelley continued. “His motive in helping others was always, quite simply, his passion and love for NASCAR and his desire to encourage others to do as he did – to leave things better than he found them.”
Wheeler was named president of Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1975. He held that position until his retirement in May 2008.
-Photo credit: Streeter Lecka/NASCAR via Getty Images
