by Hummpy Wheeler, whose innovative ideas as a long -standing president and director general of Charlotte Motor Speedway have revolutionized the experience and the race of fans, died on Wednesday. He was 86 years old.
Bruton Smith hired Wheeler in 1975 to supervise Charlotte Motor Speedway and Wheeler held this position until his retirement in 2008.
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Meanwhile, he supervised the lighting of the track so that he could accommodate the 1992 star race at night, a trend that other songs followed. He supervised legendary pre-course shows, military exercises at the Casse-Cou-Couples and Robosaurus shows.
He was also a confidant for many drivers and encouraged them to show more personality to better connect with fans.
In 2007, Wheeler appeared a list to improve races at that time. The list included the allocation of more points for the victories, the granting of more points for the head tricks, to put more money in the handbags and to add a break at halftime to the races
“People do not buy a just ticket to see the last 10 laps of the race, they buy a ticket to see the whole race,” he told the news (Greensboro, NC) and record in 2007.
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Wheeler’s ideas may not have been adopted by sport, but they helped make Nascar advance at the time.
The CEO of Nascar, Jim France, said in a press release:
“Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name has become synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport. During her decades, the head of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Humpy transformed the experience of fans through her creativity, her daring ideas and her tireless passion. His efforts helped extend the NASCAR complex, which recently made the Nascar-Visio complex in Nascar.
“On behalf of Nascar and the France family, I present my sincere condolences to the Wheeler family and to all those who have been affected by their remarkable life and heritage.”
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Others in sport have shared their memories of Wheeler.
