Growing Up NASCAR: Racing's Most Outrageous Promoter Tells All

Humpy Wheeler · Peter Golenbock

Mar 2010 · Motorbooks

About this ebook

In 1949, when Humpy Wheeler was 11, he attended the very first NASCAR race. For the next ten years, he spent as much time in the pits as he could, and came to know many of the sport’s pioneers.  Eventually, Wheeler began promoting races at Carolina tracks such as Concord Speedway, Robinwood Speedway, and Starlight Speedway. Racing was so rough back then he kept a gun by his side when he paid the purse, and often used his fists to keep order. By the time Wheeler retired in 2008, he had helped NASCAR become the six-billion-dollar-a-year industry it is today. Filled with photographs from Wheeler's personal archives, Growing up NASCAR presents the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at NASCAR from the consumate insider.

Ratings and reviews

A disappointing read. Expected a lot more from Humpy and Peter Golenbock. Instead, I think the book was hastily thrown together and had little editing. It includes so many avoidable spelling errors such as Daryl Waltrip, Joe Madioli, Dave Marcus, etc. The book also refers to the co-owner of Buddy Baker's team as Danny Schaefer vs. Danny Schiff. These are little things. But combine them with many stories I've already heard and Humpy's continual self-back-patting, and the book shakes out as less that what it could have been.

About the author

Peter Golenbock has been writing books about sports since 1975. Some of his best sellers are Dynasty, The Bronx Zoo (with Sparky Lyle), Number 1 (with Billy Martin), and Balls (with Greg Nettles.) He has also written a series of NASCAR histories including American Zoom, The Last Lap, and NASCAR Confidential.

In 1947, when Humpy Wheeler was nine years old, he put his thumb out on Highway 29 and hitched a ride to the Charlotte Speedway. Since then, Humpy has held just about every job there is in NASCAR. The consummate promoter, Humpy invented the pre-race show.