New fans refer to the track in Concord NC as Lowes Motor Speedway. Long time fans refer to it as Charlotte Motor Speedway. And then there are the fans like myself who refer to it as Humpy’s House. Because we know that even if the owner is Bruton Smith, this is the House that Humpy built. And I will always call it Humpy's House.
Ya'll have already read all the articles about his stunts and promotions. I won't repeat all the great stories. I will just say PT had nothing on Humpy Wheeler. He is all about the "show".
The first time I went to what was then Charlotte Motor Speedway I was awed. This track was heads and shoulders above all the other tracks I had been to. When pre race festivities were simply nothing more than the National Anthem and invocation at other tracks, Humpy Wheeler was entertaining the races fans with elaborate pre race shows. When at other tracks you were lucky to find a port o potty, Charlotte had tons of clean, restrooms with flushable toilets. When at other tracks all you could find to eat was a burger, Charlotte sold us such tasty delights as fried twinkies, fried Oreos and fried candy bars. (And let me tell you, all three fried are the bomb.)
While Humpy Wheeler knew he had to cater to the wine and cheese crowd, he never forgot the beer and bar-b-que crowd. In every interview I have ever read with Humpy Wheeler, he stressed the importance of the blue collar worker who was a race fan. Back when we sat on the back stretch in the $10.00 general admission section, I felt just as important as the people in the suites across the track. He always made this common race fan feel like I was the most important person to walk thru the gate. And for that, I am extremely grateful. So Humpy on behalf of all the fans who have ever attended a race at your house, THANK YOU.
I sat in the grandstand Sunday night, listening to Humpy say goodbye and I wasn't surprise at all by his speech. He thanked all the race fans for their support thru out the years. No Humpy, we thank you.
On behalf of the fans that attend races at Bristol,
Texas and Atlanta, THANK YOU. Without you,
I don’t think the track presidents would be so
accommodating to the common race fan. You
are the epitome of what a track president should
be and the example of how a track president
should treat the fans.
I know when I go to the October race at
Charlotte, I will be sad knowing Humpy is no
longer looking out for the common fan. I will be
watching to see if his replacement treats the
fans as good. We can only hope.
And I do hope that whoever is running the track next May has the respect and class to make sure Humpy Wheeler is at the 50th anniversary of the Coca Cola 600. It is the right thing to do and to tell you the truth; I just don’t know if it would have made it 50 years with out Humpy.
So Humpy, I thank you on behalf of ALL race fans. I wish you well in your next adventure and
only hope it is a position that in some ways ties you to the race fans again. Maybe open up "The Humpy Wheeler School of Track Promoters." What ever it is, I know you will be looking out for the common fan.
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