Humpy Wheeler, NASCAR showman who helped races run under the lights, dies at 86

H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, the longtime head of Charlotte Motor Speedway whose showmanship and innovation played an integral role in NASCAR’s rise in popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s, died on Wednesday. He was 86.

Known as the “P.T. Barnum of race promoters,” Wheeler was credited with bringing night races to speedways. He also orchestrated wild pre-race shows and crazy stunts like staging dramatic military reenactments (the Battle of Grenada was one example) on the frontstretch, luring fans to the racetrack hours early in an attempt to alleviate traffic jams.

Wheeler was such a notable figure in NASCAR, he had a role in Pixar’s “Cars” and “Cars 3” as the character Tex Dinoco. In May, he was named the 2026 winner of NASCAR’s Landmark Award for outstanding contributions to the sport and was set to officially receive the honor in January. He is also a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports 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 Thursday. “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 (and) cement Charlotte as a must-visit racing and entertainment complex.”

Wheeler’s most significant contributions to NASCAR during its period of growth may have been illumination — both literally and figuratively. His idea to light Charlotte for the famous 1992 All-Star Race (known as “One Hot Night”) permanently changed the at-track fan experience. But he also helped NASCAR grab the spotlight with his attention-grabbing, unpredictable ideas, which were fostered through a lifetime of unique experiences.

Wheeler organized and promoted bicycle races as a 13-year-old. He played college football at the University of South Carolina until he broke three vertebrae and was temporarily paralyzed and was also a semi-professional boxer who posted a 40-2 record.

But his tenure at the Charlotte track, which he ran from 1976-2008, gave him the opportunity to be a showman while focusing on the fan experience. (His “three Ts” were tickets, traffic and toilets).

He was considered a mentor to many in the NASCAR industry, including Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Alan Kulwicki. He was progressive for his time, arranging for Janet Guthrie to drive in the 1976 World 600 — making her the first woman to compete in a NASCAR superspeedway race.

Under Wheeler’s supervision, Charlotte expanded to 167,000 seats and became the first track to build condominiums as part of the facility. He was also instrumental in developing the Legend car scene, which is still a key cog for young drivers on their way up the racing ladder.

“Humpy’s contributions to and accomplishments in NASCAR are without parallel,” NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director Winston Kelley said. “The breadth and depth of his legacy, and those whom he influenced, assisted and mentored, cannot be overstated.”

(Photo: ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)