The landscape at Lowe’s Motor Speedway has changed dramatically during the past two months — both literally and figuratively.
While construction on the new $60 million zMax Dragway nears completion, those running the multi-faceted motorsports complex continue to change.
Days before the Coca-Cola 600 in May, longtime LMS President H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler suddenly resigned after continued conflicts with Speedway Motorsports, Inc., Chairman O. Bruton Smith. After the 600, Smith’s son, Marcus, was installed as LMS President and President of SMI, which owns LMS.
Then on July 17, Wheeler’s protégé and our friend LMS Vice President of Events Roger Slack tendered his resignation to the company that he has called home for 11 years.
Slack, who admits he is loyal to Wheeler, says his decision is more personal in nature.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, even before Humpy left, and really want to take some time off,” said Slack, who first learned the tricks of the auto-racing trade from his grandfather, Bob, long-time promoter at Cayuga Speedway in Ontario. “I haven’t been a very good son, grandson or uncle to my family. I thought about how little time I have spent with them in the last 11 years. I am at a point where I can afford to take some time off and spend it with my family and friends and go to the race tracks I haven’t been able to go to for years or have yet to visit.”
Slack believes Wheeler’s departure from LMS has and will open more doors for him.
“Humpy retiring created a lot of options for me. In the past, people thought I wasn’t going to leave the speedway because I wasn’t going to leave Humpy,” he said. “The phone calls and e-mails that I’ve received just since yesterday have been interesting. When the time comes, it does not appear there will be a lack of opportunities to ponder.”
By Friday evening, Slack was on his way to Canada for a week’s vacation before returning to work his final two weeks at the speedway. He was planning to sandwich trips to Merrittville and Flamboro speedways around a gig flagging the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Series event at Ohsweken Speedway.
“I still get a kick out of flagging the big races,” said Slack, who started flagging at his grandfather’s track before working in the same capacity with the ASA National Tour prior to taking his first post at LMS. “Ohsweken is 12 miles from my mom and dad’s house. I get to go home and do that and have fun.”
There is little question that wherever Slack ends up, he’ll be working in the short-track industry.
“My heart is in short-track racing, whether it is dirt or asphalt. I appreciate each of them and their specific nuances and idiosyncrasies,” Slack said. “I am a short-track guy and in all likelihood that is where I will end up when I decide what I am going to do.”
Slack believes there are no limitations to what he may be able to do. “I’m 33. I’m single. I have no kids. If I decide to pick up and go somewhere, I can do it,” he said. “I have a Corvette convertible that has been sitting in my garage for two years begging me to drive it.”
He hopes to drive that Corvette to more than a few tracks.
“I want to go to see Bob Sargent’s tracks,” he said. “We’ve been friends for a long time, but I’ve never been to one of his races. There are a lot of great promoters out there like Ray Marlar, and a lot of people that I have the opportunity to learn things from, but could never visit their operation because I've been too busy running my own shows.”
While enthusiastic about what is ahead for him, Slack had one difficult task the day of his resignation.
“I’ll miss the people. It’s been my home and my family for 11 years,” he said, his voice trailing off. “The toughest part was telling my team yesterday. That was difficult.”