CUP: Humpy Helping Out On Jobs

Sprint Cup

CUP: Humpy Helping Out On Jobs

H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler is trying to find ways to help the many motorsports crewmen and team members...

Tom Jensen | Posted November 28, 2008 Harrisburg, North Carolina

Former Lowe’s Motor Speedway President and General Manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler is looking for ways to help those laid off following the end of the 2008 NASCAR season. (Photo: Streeter Lecka)

Former Lowe’s Motor Speedway President and General Manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler is trying to find ways to help the many motorsports crewmen and team members laid off following the end of the 2008 NASCAR season.

In conjunction with the North Carolina Motorsports Association, Wheeler has assembled a Motorsports Employment Task Force with the stated goals of addressing the job-loss issue.

The collapse of the national banking and financial services sector has led to a nationwide recession that some economists suggest could wind up being the worst since the Great Depression some eight decades ago. The recession, which has led to a cutback in advertising and marketing budgets among NASCAR sponsors, coupled with the rising costs of going racing, have had a devastating effect on NASCAR Sprint Cup teams, especially smaller ones.

At the start of the 2007 NASCAR season, there were 47 full-time Sprint Cup cars. Next year, there could be as few as 38, with some teams merging, others running fewer cars and some cutting back to part-time schedules. That’s led to a reduction of an estimated 500-1,000 jobs in the Sprint Cup ranks, with an unknown number of additional jobs lost among the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams. And with the vast majority of NASCAR teams based in the metro Charlotte region, it’s a particularly acute concern in North Carolina.

Wheeler’s group, which met for the first time Nov. 21, is attempting to help address the problem. Attendees of the initial meeting included representatives from NASCAR, the NC Legislature, Centralina Workforce Development Board, Career Transition Consultants, NC Biotech Center, NASCAR Technical Institute, Women’s Auxiliary of Motorsports, NC-Community College Motorsports Consortium, Belmont Abbey College, Compass Career Management, The Wheeler Company and The NCMA.

The group discussed ways to immediately provide support and information to current displaced workers. In addition the Task Force discussed plans for a promotional campaign to other industries that would showcase the skills and benefits to hiring someone from the Motorsports Industry.

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Tom Jensen

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