CONCORD, N.C. — Bruton Smith’s right-hand man, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, retired as Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s general manager after last year’s Coca-Cola 600.
Wheeler and Smith worked together for 33 years, building Lowe’s Motor Speedway into a premier destination for motor sports. Wheeler was known as a master of promotion and expert on NASCAR. He was the face of Smith’s motor sports empire.
The separation was amicable, Smith said Saturday, but the one-year anniversary of Wheeler’s departure has raised questions about the situation. Wheeler was supposed to be a consultant for Smith, but Smith said Saturday, “We don’t need to consult with him on anything.”
Wheeler, who spent most of his career building the Coca-Cola 600 into an event bigger than the Indy 500 in television ratings, was not invited to this year’s race. Instead, he’s in Indianapolis, watching the Indy 500 as a guest of the track’s owners.
“No one was better to Humpy Wheeler than me,” Smith said.
Smith said Wheeler asked him for a $5 million separation bonus, a request the Speedway Motorsports, Inc., chairman declined. Wheeler was given a retirement with $12,500 a month for 10 years, Smith said.
“The suddenness was not my idea,” Wheeler told ESPN before last year’s race. “I would have liked to have stayed around a little bit, just eased out a little easier. … Maybe in a part-time role.”
Smith replaced Wheeler with his son, Marcus Smith.
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