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EXCLUSIVE Speedway Media
Photo by Brad Keppel
H.A
"Humpy" Wheeler
announces his retirement
today at Lowe's Motor
Speedway in Concord, NC.
After over 33 years of
making Lowe's Motor
Speedway a model in the
racing industry, Wheeler
will leave the track he
put his heart and soul
into. Most people at the
press conference were
shocked by the
announcement. I
personally couldn't help
but think of the huge
void that will be left
in the sport with
Wheeler's absence.
Wheeler is the "King" of
NASCAR promoters and
will be sadly missed by
competitors, fans and
teams alike. He set the
grandest stage for fans
and the competitors
alike at NASCAR'S "home
field" track.
Wheeler
said he was leaving the
sport "in part” on his
own terms. He also
acknowledged that he has
been thinking about this
day for 6 months or so.
EXCLUSIVE Speedway Media
Photo by Brad Keppel
What does
this all mean? Is there
some underlying issue at
Speedway Motorsports
Inc.? Is there tension
between him and longtime
friend Bruton Smith, who
wasn't at the press
conference? Are there,
heaven forbid, any
health issues for
Wheeler? All of these
and many more questions
will be answered over
the next weeks and
months as this season
races forward. You can
see in his twinkling
eyes and the sound of
his voice that he is
leaving something he
truly loves. You can
also see, by the
reaction of co-workers,
he is loved and will be
truly missed. Wheeler
would not allude to who
his future replacement
will be. I believe Lowe's
Motor Speedway will have
a very hard time
replacing Mr. Wheeler as
he knows and understands
the entire sport. He has
always respected and
been respected by the
media, fans, competitors
and other promoters in
the sport of NASCAR. In
listening to him today
you can tell how much
knowledge he really has.
It was Wheeler's idea to
light up a super
speedway and run a race
at night. He also had
the insight to start the
Bandalero's to allow
small budget racers the
chance to go for a
regional or National
title. These are just a
couple of his ideas that
have changed the sport,
we all love, forever.
EXCLUSIVE Speedway Media
Photo by Brad Keppel
In
closing I couldn't help
to have a feeling that I
was at a funeral more
than a retirement
announcement. The
writers, photographers
and co-workers were all
shocked by the sudden
announcement. The
questions that remain
unanswered left everyone
in total disbelief that
this could be happening.
Tears
were flowing down the
faces of co-workers and
they said their goodbyes
with long heartfelt
hugs. As I was leaving
the media center I heard
one of the ladies saying
she would miss the smell
of his cologne each day.
This is a true pioneer
and ambassador of the
sport of NASCAR and I
hope we haven't seen the
last of H.A. "Humpy"
Wheeler in
it.
You can
contact Brad at
bkeppel@speedwaymedia.com
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