Elmo Harold Langley (August 21, 1928 – November 21, 1996) was a NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number 64 on his race cars during his NASCAR career.

Elmo Langley
BornElmo Harold Langley
(1928-08-21)August 21, 1928
Creswell, North Carolina
DiedNovember 21, 1996(1996-11-21) (aged 68)
Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Cause of deathHeart attack
NASCAR Cup Series career
535 races run over 27 years
Best finish5th (1969, 1971)
First race1954 Southern 500 (Darlington)
Last race1981 Mason-Dixon 500 (Dover)
First win1966 race #23 (Spartanburg)
Last win1966 Old Dominion 150 (Manassas)
WinsTop tensPoles
21931
NASCAR Grand National East Series career
23 races run over 2 years
Best finish2nd (1972)
First race1972 Hickory 276 (Hickory)
Last race1973 Buddy Shuman 100 (Hickory)
First win1972 Fun Sun 200 (Myrtle Beach)
Last win1972 Fun Sun 200 (Myrtle Beach)
WinsTop tensPoles
1192
Statistics current as of October 27, 2013.

Racing career

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Langley began his racing career racing modified cars in Virginia and Maryland in 1952. Langley came into NASCAR as a Driver/Owner in 1954. In 1966 he partnered with Henry Woodfield and created Langley-Woodfield Racing. That same year Langley won the only two races of his long career. After the second race of the 1969 season, Langley and Woodfield split and Langley continued to run the team on his own returning to the driver/owner role.

Langley finished 5th in season points in 1969 and 1971, 6th in 1968 and 1970, 7th in 1972, 8th in 1975, and 9th in 1967 and 1973. His final full season was as a driver for Langley Racing in 1975.

He continued to drive in a few select races until 1981 when he hung up the helmet for good. Langley began to field his familiar #64 for other drivers to develop their career including Tommy Gale, Joe Millikan, Jimmy Hensley and Ken Schrader. Langley shut down his team after the 1987 season.

On April 15, 1988, Langley was named as the crew chief for Cale Yarborough and Dale Jarrett with his duties in effect after that year's First Union 400 where he attended as an observer.[1]

Elmo's very last race was the Battle of the NASCAR Legends race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1991. The race featured such drivers as Cale Yarborough, Junior Johnson, Pete Hamilton, and Donnie Allison. The winner was Langley, beating Yarborough to the line by about 3 feet on the last lap.

From April 1989 through November 1996, Langley served as the official pace car driver for all Winston Cup events. Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace were well known to bump and draft his car during pace laps.

Personal life

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Langley was married to Nancy and had four sons; Elmo Jr., Raymond, William and Steven. He lived in Harrisburg, North Carolina.[2]

Death

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On November 21, 1996, Langley was in Suzuka, Japan to drive the pace car in the NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka exhibition race which was held on November 24.[3] During a test drive, he began to experience chest pains. He was subsequently taken to the Suzuka General Hospital where he was pronounced dead when his heart stopped beating before arrival.[4] NASCAR legend and TBS Superstation analyst Buddy Baker was in the pace car at the time Langley suffered his heart attack, and was one of the last people to see Langley still alive.[5]

Motorsports career results

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NASCAR

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

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NASCAR Grand National Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162NGNCPtsRef
1954Langley Racing53OldsPBSDABJSPATLOSPOAKNWSHBOCCSLANWILMARSHARSPCLTGARCLBLNDHCYMCFWGSPIFAWSSFSGRSMOROAKCLTSANCORDAR
12
CCSCLTLAN
59
MASMARNWS34th864[6]
1955TCSPBSJSPDABOSPCLBHBONWSMGYLANCLTHCYASFTUSMARRCH
8
NCFFORLINMCFFONAIRCLTPIFCLBAWSRSP
23
100th-[7]
John Dodd, Sr.171DodgeMOR
16
ALSNYFSANCLTFORMAS
Langley Racing76DodgeDAR
59
MGYLANRSPGPSMASCLBMARLVPNWSHBO
195681ChevyHCYCLTWSSPBSASFDABPBSWILATLNWSLANRCHCLBCONGPSHCYHBOMARLINCLTPOREURNYFMERMASCLTMCFPORAWSRSPPIFCSFCHICCFMGYOKLROAOBSSANNORPIFMYBPORDAR
19
CSHCLTLANPORCLBHBONWPCLTCCFMARHCYWILNA0[8]
19578WSSCONTICDABCONWILHBOAWSNWSLANCLTPIFGBFPORCCFRCHMARPOREURLIN
11
LCSASPNWPCLBCPSPIFJACRSPCLTMASPORHCYNORLCSGLNKPCLINOBSMYBDARNYFAWSCSFSCFLANCLBCCFCLTMARNBRCONNWSGBFNA0[9]
1958FAYDABCONFAYWILHBOFAY
24
CLBPIFATLCLTMAR
43
ODS
7
OBS
5
GPSGBFSTRNWSBGSTRN
13
RSDCLBNBSREFLIN
24
HCYAWSRSPMCCSLSTORBUFMCFBELBRRCLBNSVAWSBGSMBSDARCLTBIRCSFGAFRCH
8
HBOSAS39th980[10]
Ratus Walters10FordMAR
39
NWSATL
23
1959FAYDAY
30
DAY
25
HBO
17
CON
8
ATLWIL
18
BGSCLBNWSREF
22
HCYMARHEI
17
CLTMBSCLT28th1568[11]
110TRN
18
CLTNSVASPPIFGPSATLCLBWILRCHBGSAWS
10BuickDAY
36
NSV
3
AWS
23
BGSGPSCLBDAR
45
HCYRCHCSFHBOMAR
40
AWSNWSCON
1960CLTCLBDAYDAY
32
DAY
52
CLTNWSPHOCLBMAR
27
HCYWILBGSGPSAWSDARPIFHBORCHHMSCLTBGSDAY
32
HEIMABMBSATLBIRNSVAWSPIFCLBSBOBGS54th1534[12]
Gerald Duke92FordDAR
45
HCYCSFGSP
Doc White61FordHBO
14
MAR
19
NWS
23
CLT
17
RCH
14
Happy Steigel16PontiacATL
40
1961Doc White61FordCLT
12
HCY
6
RCH
5
MARDAR
31
CLTCLTRSDASPCLT
17
PIFBIRGPSBGSNORHASSTRDAYATLCLBMBSBRINSVBGSAWSRCH
8
SBO
12
RCH
8
CSF30th5376[13]
16PontiacJSP
16
DAY
Happy Steigel16PontiacDAY
21
DAY
25
PIFAWSHMSATL
17
GPSHBOBGSMARNWSCLB
Fred Clark30ChevyDAR
13
HCY
J.L. Cheatham96ChevyATL
28
MARNWS
32FordCLT
24
BRIGPSHBO
1962Ratus Walters77FordCONAWSDAYDAY
19
DAY
47
CONAWSSVHHBORCHCLBNWSGPSMBSMARBGSBRIRCHHCYCON40th2556[14]
Langley Racing64FordDAR
24
PIFCLTATLBGSAUGRCHSBODAYCLBASHGPSAUGSVHMBSBRICHTNSVHUNAWSSTRBGSPIFVALRCH
32
DTSAUGMARNWSCLT
82DAR
16
HCY
Ratus Walters66FordATL
13
1963Langley Racing64FordBIRGGSTHSRSDDAYDAYDAYPIFAWSHBO
18
ODS
5
RCH
15
CLTBIRATLDAYMBSSVHDTS
6
BGS
20
ASH
12
OBS
17
BRR39th3982[15]
Lyle Stelter55MercuryATL
15
HCYBRIAUGRCHGPSSBOBGSMARNWSCLBTHSDAR
Bob Adams09ChevyBRI
DNQ
GPSNSVCLBAWS
15
PIFBGSONADAR
18
HCY
Ratus Walters66FordRCH
26
MARDTSNWSTHSCLTSBOHBORSD
1964CONAUGJSPSVHRSDDAYDAYDAYRCHBRIGPSBGSATLAWSHBO
11
PIFCLBNWSMARSVHDAR42nd4400[16]
Henry Woodfield08FordLGY
6
HCY
8
SBO
16
John Berejoski64FordCLT
42
GPSASHATLCONNSVCHTBIRVALPIFDAYODS
6
OBS
7
BRRISPGLNLIN
14
BRINSVMBSAWSDTSONACLBBGSSTRDAR
21
HCYRCH
16
ODS
8
HBOMAR
24
SVHNWSCLT
11
HARAUGJAC
18
1965Langley RacingFordRSDDAY
17
DAYDAY
21
PIFAWSRCH
13
HBO
4
ATLGPS
18
NWS
29
MAR
6
CLBBRI
30
DARLGY
3
BGS
7
HCY
13
CLT
35
CCFASHHARNSVBIRATLGPS
DNQ
MBSVALDAY
21
ODS
6
OBS
17
ISPGLN
7
BRI
33
NSV
16
CCFAWS
12
SMR
12
PIF
3
AUG
13
CLBDTSBLV
13
DAR
26
ODS
6
RCH
12
MAR
34
NWS
14
CLT
27
HBOCAR
8
DTS
21
25th10982[17]
84BGS
12
Emory Gilliam00FordHCY
16
LIN
16
1966Langley Racing64FordAUG
30
RSDDAYCAR
7
BRI
4
ATL
30
HCY
6
CLB
22
GPS
25
BGS
5
NWS
21
MAR
4
DAR
7
LGY
4
MGR
8
MON
9
RCH
17
CLT
25
DTS
16
ASH
11
PIF
1
SMR
4
AWS
11
BLV
16
DAY
13
ODS
1*
BRR
5
OXF
24
FON
15
ISP
5
BRI
6
SMR
26
NSV
17
ATL
30
CLB
6
AWS
22
BLV
2
BGS
15
DAR
18
HCY
12
RCH
5
HBO
6
MAR
33
NWS
29
CLT
30
CAR
19
11th19116[18]
ChevyDAY
13
DAY
45
Gene Black74FordGPS
3
1967Langley Racing64FordAUG
8
RSDDAY
16
DAYDAY
20
AWS
8
BRI
6
GPS
6
BGSATL
26
CLB
8
HCY
13
NWS
18
MAR
7
SVH
4
RCH
14
DAR
9
BLV
13
LGY
4
CLT
15
CAR
24
GPS
3
MGY
5
DAY
22
TRN
5
OXF
9
FDA
23
ISP
8
BRI
7
SMR
8
NSV
31
ATL
24
BGS
7
CLB
3
SVH
2
DAR
34
HCY
5
RCH
12
BLV
15
HBO
6
MAR
20
NWS
23
CLT
30
CAR
9
AWS
22
9th22286[19]
4ASH
14
DeWitt RacingFordMGR
3
SMR
5
BIR
1968Langley Racing64FordMGR
6
MGY
12
RSDDAY
25
BRI
9
RCH
3
ATL
17
HCY
10
GPS
10
CLB
8
NWS
31
MAR
10
AUG
12
AWS
5
DAR
10
BLV
13
CLT
18
ASH
5
MGR
22
SMR
6
BIR
6
CAR
23
DAY
18
ISP
7
OXF
24
FDA
7
TRN
9
BRI
11
SMR
6
NSV
6
ATL
30
CLB
4
BGS
5
AWS
16
SBO
7
LGY
7
DAR
12
HCY
5
RCH
9
MAR
32
NWS
10
AUG
18
CAR
40
JFC
8
6th2823[20]
Champion Racing10FordLGY
8
Langley Racing93FordGPS
7
Seifert Racing45FordBLV
17
HBO
9
47CLT
13
1969Langley Racing64FordMGR
4
MGY
21
RSD
19
DAY
14
DAYDAY
20
CAR
22
AUG
25
BRI
8
ATL
21
CLB
6
HCY
11
GPS
4
RCH
3
NWS
9
MAR
8
AWS
19
DAR
16
BLV
4
LGY
7
CLT
10
MGR
8
SMR
5
MCH
36
KPT
6
GPS
9
NCF
5
DAY
14
BLV
23
BRI
14
NSV
10
SMR
4
ATL
28
MCH
13
SBO
5
BGS
4
AWS
4
DAR
26
HCY
7
RCH
21
TAL
DNQ
CLB
6
MAR
9
NWS
16
CLT
13
SVH
5
AUG
5
JFC
6
MGR
20
TWS
27
5th3383[21]
84DOV
5
TPN
20
TRN
9
Champion Racing41FordCAR
22
1970Langley Racing64FordRSD
36
RCH
3
CAR
9
SVH
7
BRI
13
TAL
27
NWS
8
CLB
13
BLV
7
LGY
8
SMR
17
MAR
24
HCY
7
KPT
11
GPS
6
SMR
20
CLB
6
ONA
7
BGS
8
SBO
8
HCY
10
RCH
12
NCF
18
NWS
11
MAR
29
MGR
8
6th3154[22]
MercuryDAY
13
DAYDAY
28
ATL
11
DAR
31
CLT
35
MCH
11
RSD
17
DAY
28
AST
7
TPN
10
TRN
13
NSV
34
ATL
13
MCH
13
TAL
12
DAR
21
DOV
19
CLT
6
CAR
13
LGY
7
45FordBRI
8
1971Langley Racing64MercuryRSD
17
DAYDAY
7
DAY
14
ONT
11
RCH
6
CAR
9
HCY
5
BRI
7
ATL
18
DAR
10
TAL
28
ASH
2
CLT
27
MCH
22
RSD
27
HOU
4
DAY
27
ATL
40
BGS
15
MCH
21
TAL
11
DAR
34
CLT
14
DOV
8
CAR
29
MGR5th3356[23]
Clyde Lynn20FordCLB
5
MAR
12
MercuryGPS
10
Langley Racing64FordSMR
4
NWS
15
SBO
24
KPT
2
DOV
7
GPS
4
NSV
17
ONA
25
CLB
7
HCY
2
MAR
7
RCH
5
NWS
10
TWS
41
Ron Ronacher67FordBRI
6
AST
5
TRN
15
MercuryISP
3

Winston Cup Series

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NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031NWCCPtsRef
1972Langley Racing64FordRSD
8
DAY
12
RCH
7
ONT
9
CAR
9
ATL
34
BRI
7
DAR
13
NWS
24
MAR
11
TAL
24
DOV
25
MCH
29
RSDTWS
29
DAY
35
BRI
11
TRN
11
ATL
20
TAL
14
MCH
12
NSV
5
DAR
22
RCH
22
DOV
7
MAR
9
NWS
8
CLT
35
CAR
13
TWS
24
7th6656.25[24]
MercuryCLT
11
1973FordRSD
7
DAY
DNQ
RCH
12
CAR
21
BRI
12
ATL
26
NWS
13
DAR
35
MAR
11
TAL
19
NSV
17
CLT
14
DOV
17
TWS
27
RSD
19
MCH
19
DAY
16
BRI
9
ATL
38
TAL
21
NSV
21
DAR
31
RCH
15
DOV
8
NWS
14
MAR
13
CLT
8
CAR
12
9th5826.85[25]
1974MercuryRSD
15
25th433.78[26]
FordDAY
DNQ
RCH
9
CAR
38
BRI
16
ATLDAR
38
NWS
13
MAR
27
TAL
23
NSV
12
DOV
18
CLTRSDMCHDAYBRI
27
NSV
18
ATL
16
POC
18
MCH
16
DAR
20
RCH
6
DOV
22
NWS
26
MAR
7
CLT
DNQ
CAR
25
ONT
Adams Racing56FordTAL
20
Champion Racing10FordCLT
33
1975Langley Racing64FordRSD
5
DAYRCH
5
CAR
12
BRI
17
ATL
17
NWS
27
DAR
20
MAR
11
NSV
15
DOV
12
CLT
24
RSD
12
MCH
14
DAY
25
POC
24
TAL
14
MCH
18
DAR
10
DOV
24
NWS
14
MAR
10
CLT
10
RCH
7
CAR
23
BRI
19
ONT
22
8th3399[27]
DodgeTAL
14
Champion Racing10FordNSV
10
Handy Racing33ChevyATL
15
1976Langley Racing64FordRSDDAYCARRCH
10
BRI
15
ATLNWS
15
DARMAR
13
TALNSV
13
DOVCLTRSDMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRI
25
DARRCH
15
DOVMARNWSCLTCARATLONT36th824[28]
1977RSDDAYRCH
20
CARATLNWSDARBRI
16
MARTALNSV
28
POCTALMAR
16
NWSCLTCARATLONT42nd634[29]
Price Racing45ChevyNSV
23
Junior Miller Racing95ChevyDOV
31
CLTRSDMCHDAY
Robbins Racing42DodgeMCH
35
BRIDARRCHDOV
1978Gray Racing10ChevyRSDDAYRCHCARATLBRIDARNWSMARTALDOV
37
CLTNSVRSDMCHDAY67th243[30]
Langley Racing64FordNSV
16
POCTALMCHBRIDARRCHDOVMARNWSCLT
Gray Racing19ChevyCAR
29
ATLONT
1979Nelson Malloch Racing05ChevyRSDDAYCARRCHATLNWSBRIDARMARTALNSVDOV
28
CLTTWS57th246[31]
Langley Racing64FordRSD
35
MCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCHDOVMAR
DNQ
CLTNWSCARATLONT
1981Speed Racing66OldsRSDDAYRCHCARATLBRINWSDARMARTALNSVDOV
29
CLTTWSRSDMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCHDOVMARNWSCLTCARATLRSD96th76[32]
Daytona 500
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YearTeamManufacturerStartFinish
1959Ratus WaltersFord4825
1960Buick5552
1961Happy SteigelPontiac3825
1962Ratus WaltersFord3947
1965Langley RacingFord3121
1966Chevrolet2645
1967Ford3320
19681725
19692920
1970Mercury2528
19711614
1972Ford3812
1973DNQ
1974DNQ

References

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  1. ^ "Langley new Yarborough crew chief". The Item. April 15, 1988. p. 5B.
  2. ^ "Elmo Langley, 68, Nascar Pace-Car Driver". The New York Times. 1996-11-22. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  3. ^ "Elmo Langley dead at 68". motorsport.com. 1996-11-21. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  4. ^ "Elmo Langley, NASCAR official". Beaver County Times. November 22, 1996. p. A4.
  5. ^ "1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Suzuka Thunder 100". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1954 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1955 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  8. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1956 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1957 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  10. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1958 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  11. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1959 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  12. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  14. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  15. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1963 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  16. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  17. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  18. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1966 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  19. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  20. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  21. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  22. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  23. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  24. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  25. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  26. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  27. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  28. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  29. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  30. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  31. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  32. ^ "Elmo Langley – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
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