Humpy Wheeler NASCAR legend and Cars movie voice passes away at 86 in Charlotte

H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler Jr. has died at age 86. Surrounded by his family, he passed away from natural causes in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. From 1975 to 2008, Wheeler served as Charlotte Motor Speedway's long-time president and general manager and was a well-known motorsports promoter. He even contributed his voice to the character Tex Dinoco in the Pixar movie Cars and aided NASCAR in becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Beyond the racing world, this news has struck hard.Howard Augustine “Humpy” Wheeler Jr. was born October 23, 1938, in Belmont, North Carolina. He grew up watching sports with his father and learned early how to make events exciting. In 1975, he joined Charlotte Motor Speedway under founder Bruton Smith and ran it until his retirement in 2008.Humpy Wheeler earned the nickname “P.T. Barnum of motorsports” because he filled races with wild pre-race stunts, school-bus jump overs, military re-enactments, and even Robosaurus, a giant flame-thowing robot that crushed cars. He also introduced light night racing in 1992, added on-site condominiums, and a restaurant overlooking the track, making the fan experience richer.This year, Wheeler received NASCAR’s Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to the sport and was set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2026.Also Read: “Does anyone really care about her?”: Andy Roddick delivers sharp message as Iga Swiatek gets disrespected following Cincinnati Open victory NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said, “Humpy Wheeler was a visionary whose name became synonymous with promotion and innovation in our sport.” He added, “During his decades leading Charlotte Motor Speedway, Humpy transformed the fan experience through his creativity, bold ideas and tireless passion.”Among those who looked up to him was Dale Earnhardt (NASCAR Hall of Famer), who learned the importance of thinking big when entertaining fans. According to the Hall of Fame’s Executive Director Winston Kelley, “Humpy’s contributions … cannot be overstated … his visionary leadership and creativity helped shape today’s fan experience.”He is survived by his wife Patricia (“Pat”), children Traci, Patti, and Trip, and four grandchildren. His family asks that donations be made in his name to the Motorsports Management Program at Belmont Abbey College, a program he helped start more than 20 years ago. Funeral details will be shared later.