Elmo Langley

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Elmo Langley (born August 21, 1928 in Landover , Maryland , † November 21, 1996 in Suzuka , Japan ) was a NASCAR racing driver, team owner and official.

Career as a racing driver and team owner

Langley began his racing career in 1952. He took part in "Modifieds" in various races in Virginia and Maryland . On September 6, 1954 he made his debut in the Southern 500 on Darlington Raceway in the Grand National Series, today's Sprint Cup . He finished twelfth in the race in which 50 drivers started. Until 1959 he drove almost exclusively with his own cars. From 1965 Langley took on other drivers in his team, but with the exception of Tommy Gale, they never drove more than a few races per season for him. His first victory in the Grand National Series experienced Langley on June 4, 1966 on the "Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds" in Spartanburg , South Carolina . Only a few weeks later, on July 7, 1966, Langley won his second and final victory in the Grand National Series at the "Old Dominion Speedway" in Manassas , Virginia. From 1967 to 1972 Langley managed to get into the top 10 of the drivers' championship every season. He was one of the best among the drivers who competed as both driver and owner at the same time, alongside James Hylton , Dave Marcis and JD McDuffie . From the 1976 season he only took part in races sporadically. In 1981 Langley ended his career in NASCAR's highest racing division, which was then called the Winston Cup.

In his 536 race career, he reached the top 5 63 times and the top 10 193 times. He managed to win a race twice and once he started from pole position. In 1987 he joined his racing team.

NASCAR official

Langley began working as a NASCAR official in 1989. From 1989 to 1996 he drove the NASCAR pace car . Langley died of a heart attack on November 21, 1996 while driving the pace car at Suzuka International Racing Course . A few days later, a NASCAR introductory race with racing drivers like Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt took place on the same track , in which he should have driven the pace car.

Web links

Driver statistics on racing-reference.info

personal data
SURNAME Langley, Elmo
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American NASCAR racing driver, team owner, and official
DATE OF BIRTH August 21, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Landover , Maryland
DATE OF DEATH November 21, 1996
Place of death Suzuka , Japan