Longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler dies

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — H.A. “Humpy Wheeler,” a legendary NASCAR promoter who made waves with spectacular pre-race entertainment at Charlotte Motor Speedway, has died, the speedway announced Thursday. 

Wheeler, 86, died peacefully surrounded by loving family. 

Before establishing himself as a NASCAR promoter, Wheeler had aspirations of being an Olympic boxer. Wheeler, who had a career record of 40-2 and was a Golden Gloves champion, retired from the sport in 1960. He was inducted into the Carolina Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

Wheeler joined Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1975, serving as the track’s president until his retirement in 2008. Just one year into his time at CMS, Wheeler made headlines when he worked with Bruton Smith to bring sports car racer Janet Guthrie in to race in the World 600, making her the first woman to qualify for a race at a NASCAR superspeedway. 

Under Wheeler’s watch, Charlotte became a mecca for motorsports, using a “FANS First” approach. His ability and desire to create flashy pre-race entertainment and stunt shows earned him the nickname “the P.T. Barnum of motorsports.” 

Wheeler, a Belmont native who started his racing career with Firestone tires, also served as a mentor for up-and-coming racers, helping broker deals with team owners and sponsors over the years. 

Wheeler was named the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Charlotte Motor Speedway issued the following statement: 

“Charlotte Motor Speedway was blessed to have a leader in Humpy Wheeler who can only be described as ONE of a kind.

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.

Humpy’s engaging smile and flair for promotion were legendary, and his impact on every stakeholder in motorsports will be long-lasting. 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 the motorsports world has lost an icon, the legacy H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler created by building and promoting remarkable events at Charlotte Motor Speedway will continue for generations to come.”