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Wheeler Honored Before His Final Race At LMS

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The Associated Press

Published: May 26, 2008

CONCORD, N.C. - Humpy Wheeler received a standing ovation from Sprint Cup drivers before Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, his final race running Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Wheeler, who has spent 33 years at the track, is considered one of NASCAR's top promoters. He announced his retirement last week after track owner Bruton Smith declined to let Wheeler move to a part-time role.

"Thank you for your contribution to each of us and your contribution to help build NASCAR to what it is today," NASCAR president Mike Helton told Wheeler in the prerace drivers meeting.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying in this sport, just in a different role," Wheeler told the drivers.

The 69-year-old Wheeler, known for his elaborate prerace shows, had 1,500 U.S. Army troops take part in a military display that included three helicopter passes and gunners blowing up a house facade.

Wheeler later addressed the crowd before the green flag waved.

"I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to you for buying tickets to this facility through all these years," Wheeler said.

YAO'S NASCAR DEBUT: Yao Ming likes cars and drives a specially made SUV that lets him fit his 7-foot-6 frame in the driver's seat.

The Houston Rockets center also knows how to change a tire - just not as fast as he saw Sunday.

"It was very cool," Yao said after assisting Kyle Petty's team in a simulated pit stop before the race. "They showed me how to change a tire and refuel a car in what, 12 seconds? That's a little different when you change your own tire. I never saw that."

While Yao's hometown of Shanghai hosts a Formula One race, Sunday was the first time Yao attended an auto race. He took a ride in an SUV around the track - after he couldn't fit in the pace car.

Yao also shot some hoops with drivers Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Michael Waltrip and Petty. It was part of a promotion unveiling collectible Coca-Cola cans bearing the company's logo in different languages ahead of the Beijing Olympics in Yao's home country.

Yao was asked if he saw any basketball talent among the drivers. "If anyone wants to play in the NBA they need to stop driving like that so they can get a guaranteed contract," he joked.

BOUNCING TIRE: Less than two weeks after Brian Vickers' team won the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, a mistake on pit road ended his chances for a breakthrough win.

Vickers started third and led 61 laps early. But midway through the race his left rear tire fell off, sending his No. 83 Toyota hard into wall. The tire bounced down the track, slammed off the hood of David Gilliland's car, rolled into the infield and off a camper's awning.

"We're not really sure exactly why," said Vickers, who finished 42nd. "It started vibrating several times for the first couple runs. The last two runs the car was picking up a left rear vibration. The left rear wheel was loose, but it was staying intact. We're not really sure exactly what was causing it but in the last time, we picked up the vibration and the wheel just came off the car."

The Associated Press

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