Mea culprit: Wheeler apologizes for behavior of bilious billionaire
Mea culprit: Wheeler apologizes for behavior of bilious billionaire
BY DAVE YOCHUM
Humpy Wheeler, the next chairperson of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, has apologized for what Bruton Smith wreaked on the City of Concord just before Race Week in the fall of 2007. Havoc comes to mind.
For service to Cabarrus: Humpy Wheeler, left, was honored by Cabarrus Chamber officials, Steve Morris, chairman, and John Cox, CEO
The elderly billionaire threatened to move Lowe’s Motor Speedway unless he received tens of millions of dollars in incentives. South Carolina quickly offered Smith financial assistance to move there, sending virtually the entire Cabarrus County business community into chaos.
High-stakes blackmail or not, Smith got his way and the City of Concord--Mayor Scott Padgett in particular--were scorned for caving into the wealthy curmudgeon. Undeservedly, according to Wheeler.
Speaking before the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors for the first time since the incident, Wheeler said: “I apologize for what happened at the Speedway last year.”
He said he was so “ticked off” by his boss that he took off for Italy for two weeks to get away from what turned into a firestorm in the world of economic development, business retention and politics.
Wheeler, who always had a cordial relationship with local business and political officials, retired last year, clearly without the blessings of Smith.
“This has been on my mind for some time,” said Wheeler, who had spent 33 years at the Speedway working for a man well-known for his mercurial temper.
Of course, Wheeler was a working stiff like most everybody else in this world, but his apology still seemed to carry weight with chamber members. “He didn’t have to do it,” one said, explaining that Wheeler was always an employee, despite being the cheerful face man for the Speedway for so many years.
Wheeler has turned his attentions to a management consulting firm, The Wheeler Co., which will be a platform for projects including made for TV racing.
Wheeler has joined his son, Trip, to form the new company. Trip is the one who will actually work, Wheeler joked. They will work in concert with Wheeler Television, a company run by Wheeler’s daughter, Patti.
A tireless and creative promoter, Wheeler spent 33 years at Lowes Motor Speedway. He recalled concerts back in the 1970s that were “bigger than Woodstock.”
He said his job was not too different than an ordinary party on a Saturday night. “You’ve all done that,” he said. “Then, you start thinking about 150,000 people coming, and all the things you have to do to prepare for it.” The best part: “Maybe you put a smile on everyone face for a few hours.”
The worst thing he could think of was a multiple-car crash that took out the bulk of the field during the first lap. Luckily, that never happened at Lowe’s Motor Speedway during his tenure.
He said Cabarrus County has an ace in the hole from an economic development perspective. The Philip Morris plant is one of the biggest redevelopment sites in the entire country, with 2,100 acres along Highway 29 north of the Speedway.
“An auto manufacturer could move here in a heartbeat,” he said.
