Humpy Wheeler

Article summary

Howard Augustine "Humpy" Wheeler Jr. (October 23, 1938 – August 20, 2025) was an American motorsports executive and businessman. He was best known as the general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, a banked racetrack in Concord, North Carolina. Wheeler held the positions of publicity directors for numerous companies and later became the president and general manager of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was a major auto racing promoter and businessman, particularly in stock car racing and IndyCar racing. Wheeler was born and raised in Belmont, North Carolina. In 1964, he gained his first major publicity job when he was hired by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. After bouncing around real estate and public service jobs when Firestone shut down its racing program in 1970, Wheeler was hired by Charlotte Motor Speedway chairman Bruton Smith as president to replace the outgoing Richard Howard in 1975. During his time at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, he gained a reputation for creating unique promotions for races at the speedway. He abruptly retired from the position in May 2008, a decision that was seen as shocking to most of the NASCAR landscape.…

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