CONCORD, N.C. --

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"We Need To Retain Some Of This History, And Plus, They’re Green!" –H.A. 'Humpy' Wheeler

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In one masterstroke, “Humpy” Wheeler has managed to preserve a piece of history, recycle massive amounts of metal, make fans more comfortable, and save himself a quarter-million dollars.

To say that Wheeler, president and CEO of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, just puts on races is like saying P.T. Barnum just put on a circus. Wheeler is a savvy businessman and promoter who knows how to generate buzz about something as simple as the seat you sit in.

The speedway is due for some renovations, about $200 million worth. One of the most visible changes will be new seating. Instead of the concrete risers that fans have used since 1960, Wheeler is putting in wide, fold-down, arena-style seats with arm rests.

He could have just bought some, installed them and then been done with it; but that isn’t a very “Humpy” thing to do.

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Instead, Wheeler found himself a deal that generates a lot of publicity and saves money at the same time.

“I think it’s cool we got all of the seats,” Wheeler said. He went on to say, “We’ll be able to keep some history and do some recycling at the same time.”

When the Charlotte Coliseum was imploded last year, Wheeler used a personal connection to get in and buy all of the seats. While the backs and seats need to be replaced, using the distinctive and historical metal bases from the old building at the speedway is saving Wheeler a quarter-million dollars in costs.

At the same time, fans are now sitting in seats that saw Charlotte’s first professional basketball game, a Final Four, countless concerts and even a speech from Mother Teresa. All of that history and all of those memories now get blended together with the legacy of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, making it even more of an iconic structure in this part of the world.

At a press conference Thursday, Wheeler exclaimed, “We need to retain some of this history, and plus, they’re green!”

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CHECK OUT OUR GOING GREEN SECTION FOR MORE ON REUSING, RECYCLING AND, REDUCING

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Of course, the media loves it. It has a recycling angle, which is a growing trend. It has local sports crossover. It has business impact. And at the center of it all, it has one of the area's most interesting people pulling the strings.

Along with the seats from the Coliseum, a million pounds of new aluminum risers are also being installed right over the old concrete. This will make the aisles wider, give patrons more leg room, and make maintenance and cleanup easier for event staff.

The first race of the season, the Sprint Cup All-Star Race, gets under way on the third Saturday in May. Wheeler says the seats will be fully installed and ready for business on budget and on time.

To watch the interview with Wheeler and see video of the seats, check out the sidebar of this page. There are also links to the old Coliseum implosion and a recent Going Green story that explains how much of the old building will be recycled.