Humpy Wheeler, NASCAR’s PT Barnum and longtime Charlotte track president, dies

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Humpy Wheeler, the man who led Charlotte Motor Speedway to thrilling and exciting heights – figuratively and literally – that helped boost NASCAR to its zenith, has died. He was 86 years old.

Jim France, the chairman and CEO of NASCAR, issued a statement to the media Thursday expressing his condolences for Wheeler’s family. Wheeler passed away with his loving family at his side Wednesday. He died of natural causes, according to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Wheeler was born Oct. 23, 1938, in Belmont, N.C., to H.A. Wheeler Sr., and Kathleen Louise Dobbins. At age 11, he hitchhiked to the old Charlotte Speedway for some of the foundational races of what became NASCAR. Two years later, he began promoting races – bicycle races – in Belmont.

Before becoming a full-time promoter, Wheeler had aspirations as a boxer. He had a career-record of 40-2 and won a Golden Gloves championship at just 17 years old. He also played football at the University of South Carolina until a serious back injury ended his playing career.

For his boxing career, he was inducted into the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

Wheeler graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1961 with a double major in journalism and political science. He continued promoting as he worked for WBTV in Charlotte, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and other places before Bruton Smith hired him to work for Speedway Motorsports and Charlotte Motor Speedway in the fall of 1975. He served in that role until 2008.

In his 33 years as track president, Wheeler made huge waves. He brought in Janet Guthrie to make a trailblazing start in the 1976 World 600. She finished 15th in the race.

Wheeler had lights installed at the 1.5-mile track, leading to “One Hot Night”, the 1992 NASCAR All-Star Race known for being the first speedway night race that ended in a wild finish where Davey Allison crashed across the finish line the winner.

Racing wasn’t all of what Wheeler prided the track in providing. He also brought boxing matches, a recreation of the Battle of Grenada, flying stunt drivers and a metal-mashing Robosaurus robot to the track. For his work, he earned the nickname, “the P.T. Barnum of motorsports.”

Wheeler appeared in the “Cars” franchise. He is also a 2004 inductee of both the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, the NASCAR Hall of Fame named him as the Landmark Award winner as a part of the 2026 class.

Wheeler is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pat; their three children; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild, as well as his two sisters.

Statement from NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France:

“Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport. 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.”