H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler

Bonneville Consultant

Humpy Wheeler is acknowledged as the greatest promoter in the history of auto racing and, perhaps, in all of sport. A member of ten halls of fame, including the prestigious International Motorsports Hall of Fame, his 50 years in the sport include a vast array of experience in all forms of racing, including Indy Car, international land speed record projects, Formula 1, road racing all over the world, and NASCAR, where his promotional feats are legendary.

For 33 years, Wheeler served as president of Lowe's Motor Speedway (Charlotte), where his pre-race shows gained international fame in such media as Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The London Times, CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox TV networks. While at Lowe's, he changed the format for the NASCAR All-Star Race, which made it the most successful all-star event in the sport, introduced the first lighting system at a speedway, and invented the first major pre-race show in racing.

Wheeler also invented a number of race cars, including "Legends" cars, the first successful attempt to mass-produce race cars. Since he started the program, the three-quarter scale cars have been sold all over the world. Wheeler has also created a number of racing shows, including the Legends Summer Shootout, which has run continuously since 1994, and has worked to increase the pressure on racing safety.