Wheeler Retiring After Coca-Cola 600

Concord, NC (AHN) - P.T. Barnum is leaving the building. Well, sort of.

H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, chief operating officer and president of Speedway Motorsports and president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, is retiring after this weekend's Coca-Cola 600.

Wheeler, an outspoken presence with Speedway Motorsports from its inception, will retire from both positions and his successor will be decided in the near future by the Speedway Motorsports, Inc. board of directors.

"While it is with sadness that I announce my retirement from Speedway Motorsports and Lowe's Motor Speedway, it is time for me to move on to other things," said Wheeler. "I have devoted my entire life to racing and I don't intend on leaving it, just serving it in different ways.''

Wheeler will resume the 'Humpy Show' on SPEED Channel and also be chairman of the Charlotte Regional Partnership next year.

He said he will also lecture and work with the motorsports management program at Belmont Abbey College.