Elmo Langley

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

Racing career 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 fifth in season points in 1969 and 1971, sixth in 1968 and 1970, seventh in 1972, eighth in 1975, and ninth in 1967 and 1973. His final full season was as a driver for Langley Racing in 1975.

Langley continued to drive in a few select races until 1981 when he hung up the helmet for good. Langley began to field his familiar No. 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.

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

Death 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. 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. 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.

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.)

Grand National Series NASCAR Grand National 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 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Pts Ref 1954 Langley Racing 53 Olds PBS DAB JSP ATL OSP OAK NWS HBO CCS LAN WIL MAR SHA RSP CLT GAR CLB LND HCY MCF WGS PIF AWS SFS GRS MOR OAK CLT SAN COR DAR CCS CLT LAN MAS MAR NWS 34th 864 1955 TCS PBS JSP DAB OSP CLB HBO NWS MGY LAN CLT HCY ASF TUS MAR RCH NCF FOR LIN MCF FON AIR CLT PIF CLB AWS RSP 100th - John Dodd Sr. 171 Dodge MOR ALS NYF SAN CLT FOR MAS Langley Racing 76 Dodge DAR MGY LAN RSP GPS MAS CLB MAR LVP NWS HBO 1956 81 Chevy HCY CLT WSS PBS ASF DAB PBS WIL ATL NWS LAN RCH CLB CON GPS HCY HBO MAR LIN CLT POR EUR NYF MER MAS CLT MCF POR AWS RSP PIF CSF CHI CCF MGY OKL ROA OBS SAN NOR PIF MYB POR DAR CSH CLT LAN POR CLB HBO NWP CLT CCF MAR HCY WIL NA 0 1957 8 WSS CON TIC DAB CON WIL HBO AWS NWS LAN CLT PIF GBF POR CCF RCH MAR POR EUR LIN LCS ASP NWP CLB CPS PIF JAC RSP CLT MAS POR HCY NOR LCS GLN KPC LIN OBS MYB DAR NYF AWS CSF SCF LAN CLB CCF CLT MAR NBR CON NWS GBF NA 0 1958 FAY DAB CON FAY WIL HBO FAY CLB PIF ATL CLT MAR ODS OBS GPS GBF STR NWS BGS TRN RSD CLB NBS REF LIN HCY AWS RSP MCC SLS TOR BUF MCF BEL BRR CLB NSV AWS BGS MBS DAR CLT BIR CSF GAF RCH HBO SAS 39th 980 Ratus Walters 10 Ford MAR NWS ATL 1959 FAY DAY DAY HBO CON ATL WIL BGS CLB NWS REF HCY MAR HEI CLT MBS CLT 28th 1568 110 TRN CLT NSV ASP PIF GPS ATL CLB WIL RCH BGS AWS 10 Buick DAY NSV AWS BGS GPS CLB DAR HCY RCH CSF HBO MAR AWS NWS CON 1960 CLT CLB DAY DAY DAY CLT NWS PHO CLB MAR HCY WIL BGS GPS AWS DAR PIF HBO RCH HMS CLT BGS DAY HEI MAB MBS ATL BIR NSV AWS PIF CLB SBO BGS 54th 1534 Gerald Duke 92 Ford DAR HCY CSF GSP Doc White 61 Ford HBO MAR NWS CLT RCH Happy Steigel 16 Pontiac ATL 1961 Doc White 61 Ford CLT HCY RCH MAR DAR CLT CLT RSD ASP CLT PIF BIR GPS BGS NOR HAS STR DAY ATL CLB MBS BRI NSV BGS AWS RCH SBO RCH CSF 30th 5376 16 Pontiac JSP DAY Happy Steigel 16 Pontiac DAY DAY PIF AWS HMS ATL GPS HBO BGS MAR NWS CLB Fred Clark 30 Chevy DAR HCY J. L. Cheatham 96 Chevy ATL MAR NWS 32 Ford CLT BRI GPS HBO 1962 Ratus Walters 77 Ford CON AWS DAY DAY DAY CON AWS SVH HBO RCH CLB NWS GPS MBS MAR BGS BRI RCH HCY CON 40th 2556 Langley Racing 64 Ford DAR PIF CLT ATL BGS AUG RCH SBO DAY CLB ASH GPS AUG SVH MBS BRI CHT NSV HUN AWS STR BGS PIF VAL RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS CLT 82 DAR HCY Ratus Walters 66 Ford ATL 1963 Langley Racing 64 Ford BIR GGS THS RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HBO ODS RCH CLT BIR ATL DAY MBS SVH DTS BGS ASH OBS BRR 39th 3982 Lyle Stelter 55 Mercury ATL HCY BRI AUG RCH GPS SBO BGS MAR NWS CLB THS DAR Bob Adams 09 Chevy BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA DAR HCY Ratus Walters 66 Ford RCH MAR DTS NWS THS CLT SBO HBO RSD 1964 CON AUG JSP SVH RSD DAY DAY DAY RCH BRI GPS BGS ATL AWS HBO PIF CLB NWS MAR SVH DAR 42nd 4400 Henry Woodfield 08 Ford LGY HCY SBO John Berejoski 64 Ford CLT GPS ASH ATL CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF DAY ODS OBS BRR ISP GLN LIN BRI NSV MBS AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR DAR HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR SVH NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 1965 Langley Racing Ford RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS RCH HBO ATL GPS NWS MAR CLB BRI DAR LGY BGS HCY CLT CCF ASH HAR NSV BIR ATL GPS MBS VAL DAY ODS OBS ISP GLN BRI NSV CCF AWS SMR PIF AUG CLB DTS BLV DAR ODS RCH MAR NWS CLT HBO CAR DTS 25th 10982 84 BGS Emory Gilliam 00 Ford HCY LIN 1966 Langley Racing 64 Ford AUG RSD DAY CAR BRI ATL HCY CLB GPS BGS NWS MAR DAR LGY MGR MON RCH CLT DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS BLV DAY ODS BRR OXF FON ISP BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB AWS BLV BGS DAR HCY RCH HBO MAR NWS CLT CAR 11th 19116 Chevy DAY DAY Gene Black 74 Ford GPS 1967 Langley Racing 64 Ford AUG RSD DAY DAY DAY AWS BRI GPS BGS ATL CLB HCY NWS MAR SVH RCH DAR BLV LGY CLT CAR GPS MGY DAY TRN OXF FDA ISP BRI SMR NSV ATL BGS CLB SVH DAR HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR NWS CLT CAR AWS 9th 22286 4 ASH DeWitt Racing Ford MGR SMR BIR 1968 Langley Racing 64 Ford MGR MGY RSD DAY BRI RCH ATL HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR AUG AWS DAR BLV CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR DAY ISP OXF FDA TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB BGS AWS SBO LGY DAR HCY RCH MAR NWS AUG CAR JFC 6th 2823 Champion Racing 10 Ford LGY Langley Racing 93 Ford GPS Seifert Racing 45 Ford BLV HBO 47 CLT 1969 Langley Racing 64 Ford MGR MGY RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR AUG BRI ATL CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS MAR AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT MGR SMR MCH KPT GPS NCF DAY BLV BRI NSV SMR ATL MCH SBO BGS AWS DAR HCY RCH TAL CLB MAR NWS CLT SVH AUG JFC MGR TWS 5th 3383 84 DOV TPN TRN Champion Racing 41 Ford CAR 1970 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD RCH CAR SVH BRI TAL NWS CLB BLV LGY SMR MAR HCY KPT GPS SMR CLB ONA BGS SBO HCY RCH NCF NWS MAR MGR 6th 3154 Mercury DAY DAY DAY ATL DAR CLT MCH RSD DAY AST TPN TRN NSV ATL MCH TAL DAR DOV CLT CAR LGY 45 Ford BRI 1971 Langley Racing 64 Mercury RSD DAY DAY DAY ONT RCH CAR HCY BRI ATL DAR TAL ASH CLT MCH RSD HOU DAY ATL BGS MCH TAL DAR CLT DOV CAR MGR 5th 3356 Clyde Lynn 20 Ford CLB MAR Mercury GPS Langley Racing 64 Ford SMR NWS SBO KPT DOV GPS NSV ONA CLB HCY MAR RCH NWS TWS Ron Ronacher 67 Ford BRI AST TRN Mercury ISP

Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston Cup 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 Pts Ref 1972 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY RCH ONT CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV MCH RSD TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL MCH NSV DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR TWS 7th 6656.25 Mercury CLT 1973 Ford RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR 9th 5826.85 1974 Mercury RSD 25th 433.78 Ford DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT Adams Racing 56 Ford TAL Champion Racing 10 Ford CLT 1975 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ONT 8th 3399 Dodge TAL Champion Racing 10 Ford NSV Handy Racing 33 Chevy ATL 1976 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 36th 824 1977 RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV POC TAL MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 42nd 634 Price Racing 45 Chevy NSV Junior Miller Racing 95 Chevy DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY Robbins Racing 42 Dodge MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV 1978 Gray Racing 10 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT NSV RSD MCH DAY 67th 243 Langley Racing 64 Ford NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT Gray Racing 19 Chevy CAR ATL ONT 1979 Nelson Malloch Racing 05 Chevy RSD DAY CAR RCH ATL NWS BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS 57th 246 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL ONT 1981 Speed Racing 66 Olds RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 96th 76

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1959 Ratus Walters Ford 48 25 1960 Buick 55 52 1961 Happy Steigel Pontiac 38 25 1962 Ratus Walters Ford 39 47 1965 Langley Racing Ford 31 21 1966 Chevrolet 26 45 1967 Ford 33 20 1968 17 25 1969 29 20 1970 Mercury 25 28 1971 16 14 1972 Ford 38 12 1973 DNQ 1974 DNQ