There’s a funny story about Humpy Wheeler that dates back to the days — and that was a long time ago — before he was in NASCAR.

Wheeler was a left guard at the University of South Carolina where he played alongside former Baltimore Colts running back Alex Hawkins. When their Gamecocks days were through, Hawkins said Wheeler told him he thought he might go up to Charlotte and get in on the whole racing thing with NASCAR.

Hawkins told Wheeler that was a dumb idea. He wouldn’t make a dime. The two friends laughed about it years later because Wheeler did quite well for himself in the racing business.

He became a legend in fact. And sadly, that legend is now gone.

Wheeler died Thursday, according to NASCAR, at the age of 86.

NASCAR.com credited Wheeler with ushering in “NASCAR’s presen

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