Wheeler says 'other factors' had hand in retirement timing
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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CONCORD, N.C. – Humpy Wheeler didn’t want to have a drawn-out retirement party, but he did seem a little uncomfortable with the way his retirement was announced four days before the Coca-Cola 600, the final race for the president of Lowe’s Motor Speedway and parent company Speedway Motorsports Inc.
Wheeler, who had been with the company for 35 years, said that while his retirement has been discussed for several months, there were some “other factors” for the timing of his departure that he wouldn’t delve into.
“Some of it’s on my own terms,” Wheeler said Wednesday during a news conference at the track. “I won’t say it all is. But some of it is. And I will let it rest at that.”
Wheeler will have no role with the track after this weekend.
SMI Chairman Bruton Smith was not there, but his son Marcus said his father was under the weather and not to read anything into his father’s not being there. Marcus Smith said, “There is no easy time to take a step” out of a role such as the one that Wheeler had.
“He’s been under the weather,” Marcus Smith said of his father. “I don’t think he wanted to take anything away from the day today. It was a great time to listen to Humpy recount some stories, and I enjoyed it.”
In talking about his future, Wheeler said he is going to write a book and also could be available if NASCAR wants him. He said he talked to NASCAR officials this morning.
“I probably will be available to do that,” Wheeler said about the possibility of working or consulting for NASCAR. “I’ve had a close
relationship with them for a long time. I talked to Brian [France, NASCAR chairman] and Mike [Helton, NASCAR president] this morning, and so I feel like there’s a lot of challenges there.
“We’ll just have to see. I want to take a little bit of time off after this race, that’s the main thing.”
Wheeler said he is concerned about whether the best drivers reach NASCAR because of financial constraints and lack of sponsorship. He also is concerned about the racing and teams relying on computer-based programs to do car setups.
“The current condition of the car of tomorrow concerns me a great deal, as it does many people,” Wheeler said. “… That car has become a very difficult thing to get around the race track, and I’m not sure that those guys in the garage area can fix it themselves.
“I think NASCAR is probably going to have to do something to that car to make it work better, particularly on the intermediate tracks.”
He also said race tracks must hire “racers” to run their race tracks and get fans through the ticket gates.
“We need racers running the sport,” Wheeler said. “In some cases, that’s not happening right now, and it’s creating some problems.”
Comments
5 responses to "Wheeler says 'other factors' had hand in retirement timing"
Anonymous said:
May 21, 2008 at 4:12 PMHe is leaving because he knows that NASCAR has screwed up the "racing" so bad that selling tickets will be next to imposible and he wants to go out on top.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRichard Gabovitz said:
May 21, 2008 at 7:28 PMI wish him nothing but the best for him and his future, no matter what he gets into. Whatever it is, it will be first class, just like the man himself. I have been watching the HUMPY SHOW for many years and will miss them. He has put evething of himself into the track and deserves nothing but the best in return. New knew what's wrong with NASCAR, how the drivers' felt about things and spoke from the heart about it, that was refreshing to hear. God Bless You HUMPY.............
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKenn said:
May 21, 2008 at 10:27 PMOld School all the way. And it should not be Old Fashioned to have "racers" running the show.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
May 22, 2008 at 7:29 AMHumpy Wheeler has been the greatest. He has put on some of the best shows in this theater baring none. He will be missed by most of us old time race fans. The Frace Family is determine to destroy the sport of the blue color worker and I think Humpy has seen that coming. The Car of Today was suppose to make owning a Nascar Race Team more economical but it has not becase of the mechanical design factors. The sport is outpricing itself to the fan. The payoffs have gotten out of sight and who is paying for it, the fans. The show on TV is now one-third commericals and two thirds racing. The pre-race has become boring to the point where tapeing the race and being able to fast forward through pre-race and commericals is the only way to get to the what we want to see, STOCK CAR RACING.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRon Spang said:
May 27, 2008 at 9:32 PMHumpy's been a showman and innovator for over 30 years. Boy,somebody has a pair of big shoes to fill. Good luck. I'm looking forward to the prerace show next year. It should be fantastic. Thanks Humpy, for all the great shows and the improvements you made to our favorite sport. Everything Humpy did for STOCK CAR RACING he did for the fans, the drivers and the sport itself. I'd like to see him in a NASCAR role after he takes a break.
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