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6h ago

Humpy Wheeler, Visionary NASCAR Promoter, Dies at 86

His death of natural causes comes months after he was selected for the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame Landmark Award.

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Humpy Wheeler presents Francis Flock, widow of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tim Flock, with the hall of fame ring after he is inducted to the Hall of Fame during the NASCAR hall of fame induction ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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(L-R)NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Humpy Wheeler speak with Rick Allen during NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day at Charlotte Convention Center on May 21, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Overview

  • Charlotte Motor Speedway said Wheeler died Wednesday of natural causes surrounded by family, with NASCAR confirming the news and offering condolences.
  • Wheeler led Charlotte Motor Speedway from 1975 to 2008 and also held leadership roles at Speedway Motorsports during a 33-year tenure.
  • His innovations at Charlotte included installing permanent lights that enabled night racing—highlighted by the 1992 All-Star Race—along with on‑site condominiums and the Speedway Club.
  • He was widely known as the “P.T. Barnum of motorsports” for audacious pre‑race spectacles that elevated the fan experience and broadened the sport’s appeal.
  • He was named the 2025 Landmark Award recipient and set for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026 as tributes poured in from figures including Jim France, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr.; he also voiced Tex Dinoco in Pixar’s Cars films.