Motorsports executive and longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway president and GM H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler has died, the track announced Aug. 21.
He was 86.
According to a release from the track, Wheeler’s cause of death was natural causes.
Wheeler oversaw the operations of the 1.5 mile track from 1975 to 2008, and also served as president of Speedway Motorsports, which operated multiple racing venues.
Throughout that time, he became known for his efforts to promote both the speedway and the sport, including flashy pre-race entertainment shows, expanding the Charlotte Motor Speedway property to include condominiums and fine dining, and installing lights at the track to host night racing.
“For more than 30 years, Humpy was a promoter’s promoter at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” a track spokesperson said. “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.”
Earlier this year, Wheeler received the Landmark Award from the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
“Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France 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.”
Jake Altmayer joined the Frontstretch team in 2025, assisting as a news writer and contributing to other weekly columns and articles, such as Friday Faceoff and Xfinity Breakdown. A 2024 graduate of DePaul University, Altmayer has closely followed NASCAR's national series (Cup, Xfinity and Trucks) for nearly a decade and has attended more than a dozen races over the course of that time. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, spending time with his loved ones, and listening to his favorite band, the Beach Boys.