One of the most recognizable names in NASCAR says the sport is all messed up and in the need of changes and a serious boost. In a video posted on YouTube on Sunday, “Humpy” Wheeler says racing has gotten “too fancy” and left its fans behind. Wheeler is the former President and General Manager of the Lowes Motor Speedway, in Concord, and is known as one of the foremost promoters in NASCAR history. He now runs The Wheeler Company, a consulting management firm focusing on general business, professional sports, and motorsports. He says he’s thought long and hard about what is wrong with NASCAR these days. “I think we’ve messed it up a little, folks. I think we got too fancy,” he said in the video. “I think as it soared back in the 90’s a lot of people wanted to change it. They didn’t like the way it was, they thought it was too country or too unsophisticated or whatever. And those people were dead wrong.”
“We need to put the emphasis on winning. And we need to put the emphasis on leading and passing people as the race progresses. Give points for the repass. People in the grandstand are gonna go crazy when we do that.” He suggests that NASCAR give winners and leaders bigger bonuses. He says that will make races more exciting and that will bring fans back to the track. He says increases in the quality of TV broadcasting has hurt in-person attendance. “You’ve got to give them a reason to come back to the ballpark - whether the ballpark is a racetrack or whether it’s stadium. Gotta give them a reason to come back. Part of that reason is excitement. That’s the whole reason!”
Is Mr Wheeler throwing himself under the bus?
He and Bruton Smith were two of the guys that was changing NASCAR way before the 90s.
Does anyone remember the giant dead shark and the dead chicken in the shark’s mouth?
This was funny but by the end of Wheelers run at CMS he had a lot to do with the state of NASCAR.
Is this wrong? Maybe, maybe not…
[QUOTE=ModelCarMan;132130]Does anyone remember the giant dead shark and the dead chicken in the shark’s mouth? [/QUOTE]Does anyone remember the promotion behind the shark and chicken? 
When ol’ DW got the DiGard ride - the best of his career up to that point in time - he started runnin’ his mouth about Yarborough, Allison, Petty, Pearson, etc., and they “were about done” and all that mess. Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough’s car owner and sponsor (he also owned Holly Farms) started calling Darrell “Jaws”. Ol’ Darrell was so cocky, that they ran that promo at the 600 that year, I believe ('78, maybe?).
Good DW story
How about when they asked DW what he thought about leaving Junior Johnson’s team and driving for Hendrick.
He said ?I?m getting off a mule and onto a good, strong thoroughbred.?
And Junior’s response was …
?I?ve had a jackass driving my car and now I?m rid of him.?
[B][I]This was in the days when people had character, when people were human beings with feeling and personality.
Today, in that league, all is too robotic and corporate. Everything is done and said based on a script. If you go outside, you are being fined, point removed or pick on until you shut up. Just ask Tony, Kyle, Denny, Kurt, and lately Bad Brad.
It is forbidden to have your own personality. You have to go by what they want you to be.
They also made the mistake of trying to present a blue collar filled sport at a high society audience. As we all have seen, the results proved that this does not mix very well.[/I][/B]
Old sayings are true
I guess that old saying money is the root of all evil is true. Sure is a shame that money and this POLITICALLY CORRECT society (lets not say or do anything that might offend someone) can ruin something we all love.
Rember when you made 3 mil to drive your racecar.
Rember when you got your first chevy dealership
Rember when they sent a plain to take you to work
Didn’t think so
Whos wrong??
Don62