Christian Elder

Christian Stuart Elder (December 6, 1968 – August 12, 2007) was an American racing driver. He raced in the Busch Series for Akins Motorsports for two years. His best finish of the year was 26th at Kentucky.

Elder made his debut in 2001, running his first race at Las Vegas for Akins where he started the race in 32nd, and he finished 23rd. In sixteen starts, he managed two top-twenties (a pair of twentieths at Bristol and Dover). In 2002, Elder began running races for Akins full-time. A serious crash in qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway ended his Busch career.

Elder competed in the ARCA series, Star Mazda Series, Speed World Challenge Series, Busch Series and NASCAR Goody's Dash Series which Elder competed in and won races at Daytona and Lowe's Motor Speedway. He also had a pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Contrary to popular belief, Elder was not related to legendary NASCAR crew chief Jake “Suitcase Jake” Elder.

Qualifying crash

During qualifying for a race at Chicagoland Speedway, Elder lost control of his car at turns three and four, causing his car to shoot up the track and hit the wall extremely hard, slamming the car's right side past the windshield, badly wrinkling the whole side of the car. He suffered a concussion and a broken collar bone. Track rescue workers had to cut him out of the race car and Elder was transported to a nearby hospital. The crash ended his NASCAR career.

Death

Elder died at his home in Cornelius, North Carolina, on Sunday, August 12, 2007, due to accidental methadone toxicity, caused by mixing up pills he was taking due to his accident. At the time of his death, Elder was a project manager for Elder-Jones, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Motorsports career results

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

Busch Series NASCAR Busch Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Pts Ref 2001 Akins Motorsports 38 Ford DAYDNQ CAR LVS23 ATL26 DAR BRI20 TEX NSH TAL26 CAL24 RCH NHA NZH28 CLT37 DOV20 KEN24 MLW GLN CHI29 GTY30 PPR IRP MCH BRI35 DAR RCH DOV KAN27 CLT40 MEM PHO28 CAR HOM43 39th 1228 2002 DAY36 CAR37 LVS38 DAR BRI TEX31 NSH TAL43 CAL43 RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN26 MLW DAY29 CHIINQ† GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL CAR PHO HOM 58th 455 † - Qualified, but received career-ending injuries in a qualifying crash, and was replaced by Mark Green

Goody's Dash Series NASCAR Goody's Dash Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Pts Ref 1995 N/A 23 Chevy DAY FLO LAN MYB SUM HCY CAR STH BRI SUM GRE BGS MYB NSV FLO NWS VOL HCY HOM N/A 0 1996 Elder Racing 38 Pontiac DAY HOM MYB SUM NSV TRI CAR HCY FLO BRI SUM GRE SNM BGS MYB LAN STH FLO NWS VOL HCY 44th 471 1997 Elder-Jones Racing 21 Pontiac DAY HOM KIN MYB LAN CAR TRI FLO HCY BRI GRE SNM CLT MYB LAN SUM USA CON HOM 14th 2093 12 STA HCY 1998 21 DAY HCY CAR CLT TRI LAN BRI SUM GRE ROU SNM MYB CON HCY LAN STA LOU VOL USA HOM 35th 579 1999 DAY HCY CAR CLT BRI LOU SUM GRE ROU STA MYB HCY LAN USA JAC LAN N/A 0 2000 DAY MON STA JAC CAR 48th 212 N/A 16 Pontiac CLT SBO ROU LOU SUM GRE SNM MYB BRI HCY JAC USA LAN 2001 DAY ROU DAR CLT LOU JAC KEN SBO DAY GRE SNM NRV MYB BRI ACE JAC USA NSH 77th 76

ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.) ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Pts Ref 1998 John Elder 14 Pontiac DAY ATL SLM CLT MEM MCH POC SBS TOL PPR POC KIL FRS ISF ATL DSF SLM TEX WIN CLT TAL ATL N/A 0 1999 DAY ATL SLM AND CLT MCH POC TOL SBS BLN POC KIL FRS FLM ISF WIN DSF SLM CLT TAL ATL 54th 525 2000 DAY SLM AND CLT KIL FRS MCH POC TOL KEN BLN POC WIN ISF KEN DSF SLM CLT TAL ATL 51st 520