CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Humpy Wheeler, a pioneering motorsports promoter and former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, has died, NASCAR said. He was 86.
Charlotte Motor Speedway said Wheeler died Wednesday of natural causes surrounded by his family.
Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport, said NASCAR chairman Jim France. During his decades leading Charlotte Motor Speedway, Humpy transformed the fan experience through his creativity, bold ideas and tireless passion. His efforts helped expand NASCARs national footprint, cement Charlotte as a must-visit racing and entertainment complex.
Howard Augustine Wheeler Jr. was born in 1938 in Belmont and gained his first major publicity job with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He held several other positions after Firestone shut down its racing program in 1970 and was hired at Charlotte Motor Speedway by owner Bruton Smith as president in 1975.
He became a transformative figure in promoting racing and was known as the P.T. Barnum of motorsports for flashy pre-race stunts, elaborate productions and sparing no expense in ensuring fans had the most enjoyable experience possible at his events.
Wheeler earlier this year was named winner of NASCARs prestigious Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, to which hed have been inducted into the Hall of Fame next year.
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AP auto racing:
美联社北卡罗来纳州夏洛特电 纳斯卡赛车协会宣布，赛车运动先驱推广者、夏洛特赛车场前总裁兼总经理汉皮·惠勒去世，享年86岁。
夏洛特赛车场称，惠勒于周三在家人陪伴下因自然原因去世。
纳斯卡主席吉姆·弗朗斯表示："汉比·惠勒是一位远见卓识者，他的名字已成为我们这项运动中推广与创新的代名词。在他执掌夏洛特赛车场的数十年间，汉比以创造力、大胆构想和不懈激情彻底改变了车迷的观赛体验。他的努力助力纳斯卡扩大了全国影响力，使夏洛特成为必访的赛车与娱乐综合体。"
小霍华德·奥古斯丁·惠勒1938年出生于贝尔蒙特，其首份重要公关工作就职于凡世通轮胎橡胶公司。1970年凡世通终止赛车项目后，他历任多个职位，并于1975年被夏洛特赛车场老板布鲁顿·史密斯聘为总裁。
他成为推动赛车运动的变革性人物，并因华丽的赛前噱头、精心制作的表演以及不惜成本确保观众在其赛事中获得极致体验，被誉为"赛车界的P.T.巴纳姆"。
惠勒今年早些时候荣获NASCAR颁发的具有里程碑意义的杰出贡献奖，按计划他将于明年入选名人堂。
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