Humpy Wheeler
Episode 96
30 NOV 2020
The former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, having served in that role for 35 years. He has long been known as one of the foremost promoters of NASCAR auto racing and was inducted into 14 halls of fame. Back in his days as a student athlete he played college football at the University of South Carolina. His athletic career also included time as an outstanding boxer, posting a 40-2 won-lost record. He co-authored a book called, “Growing Up NASCAR: Racing’s Most Outrageous Promoter Tells All.”
Notable guest quotes:
“Today, there’s a tremendous Catholic population in the south, particularly in the big cities because of the migration from the north.”
“We went to Mass in the bay of a filling station! And it was common to go in theaters on Sundays. The blue laws, you couldn’t show movies on Sunday in a lot of places in the south, so, they loaned the priest the movie theater for the day and so we would go there.”
“I would line fields and cut grass and he even taught me how to tape ankles and all that kind of stuff. So, I was around the monks. There’s a Benedictine monastery there. I was around them all the time. And it made me feel extremely comfortable, even to this day, with priests. And I have a lot of dear friends that are priests who I talk with regularly.”
“I’ve been very fortunate to have spent over 50 years in the auto racing business and doing the thing that I really love to do the most, and also the ability maybe to serve a – what I call it – an underground ministry. You don’t wear a collar. You just be a good Catholic and you try to minister to those around you in a subtle way.”
“There’s a great deal of Christianity and Catholicism in helping other people handle grief.”
“All kinds of moral things come up race week. Something happens to somebody… and having Fr. Grubba there was wonderful, ’cause I could ask him anything.”
“One of my ministries, my own personal ministries, I don’t raise money for it or anything else, but… One of my ministries is to try to help young black kids who have grown up without a father.”
“The Benedictine monks set a great example for me, having been around them as a kid all the time; work, pray, and pray.”
“I have a wonderful relationship with the Blessed Virgin. She has helped me so many times when I’ve been at the bottom of the barrel.”
“We have kept the faith as strong as you can as the real anchor to our marriage.”
Related link:
Book – Growing Up NASCAR: Racing’s Most Outrageous Promoter Tells All
