27 Years Ago Today, NASCAR Lost One of Its Own in Japan During an Exhibition Outing

One doesn’t always have to be a successful driver in NASCAR with multiple championship wins to be loved by people involved with the sport. It is the character that people are often drawn to, rather than the athlete. That is exactly was Elmo Langley was, a man loved by almost everyone in the sport. 27 years ago, on November 21, 1996, NASCAR lost one of its dearly loved members in Japan.

A race car driver, a team owner, a crew chief, and a pace car driver—Elmo Langley had done it all in NASCAR. He might have retired from the racing action in the 1970s but he was never far away from the race track. Eventually, he found his way back to doing what he loved, driving around race tracks.

Beloved racing legend Elmo Langley was a jack of all trades

Elmo Langley began his racing career on the short courses of Beltsville and Old Dominion speedways in Maryland and Virginia. In two months in 1966, he achieved his only two wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the #64. On June 4, 1966, he won a 100-mile race at Spartanburg, South Carolina, and on July 7, he drove to a 7-lap victory at Old Dominion. Moreover, in 1969 and 1971, he placed fifth in the competition.

After retiring from driving in 1981, he would solely focus on being the team owner of Langley Racing. He employed several drivers during that period who drove in his #64 car. The list included the likes of Tommy Gale, Joe Millikan, Jimmy Hensley, and Ken Schrader. However, the motorsports veteran had to sell his team in 1987.

It did not take long for Elmo Langley to make his return to NASCAR. On April 15, 1988, Langley became the crew chief for Cale Yarborough and Dale Jarrett. But he wasn’t yet done being a racer. His career’s greatest moment came in 1991 when he won the NASCAR Legends Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19.

Langley made an outstanding last-lap move on one of the drivers who he had worked with. Cale Yarborough perhaps did not expect his former crew chief to cut inside of him on the backstretch, fight past him on the final turn, and beat him to the finish line. But that is exactly what Langley did.

The NASCAR legend spent the rest of his days being a pace car driver for the sport. It was his job to make sure that the drivers lined up accurately before the start of the race. He was also the one who guided them around tracks in case of an accident. As he was driving around the iconic Suzuka circuit in Japan heading into an exhibition race, Langley experienced chest pains. He was pronounced dead at the Suzuka General Hospital due to a heart attack. He was 68.

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Elmo Langley was always considered to be one of the most loyal members NASCAR has ever had. But that does not mean that he did not have his issues with the organization during his time as a driver.

The former NASCAR driver was loyal but stood up for what he believed in

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When the Professional Driver’s Association, led by Richard Petty, boycotted the inaugural Talladega race in 1969, he served as vice president of the organization. In 1970, he was among the twelve independent racers who resigned at the start of a race at Martinsville Speedway in protest over the distribution of prize money.

However, he never crossed a line. As per an article in the Roanoke Times dated November 22, 1996, NASCAR president Bill France said, “Elmo was a longtime friend of the NASCAR family, of which he was a vital part.” Langley also had the love and support of the drivers. “Not only was he a great driver – a good race car driver – but he’s continued to be an asset to the sport,” Cup Series driver Darell Waltrip said at the time.

Elmo Langley may not be one with the glamour and glitz of a Dale Earnhardt or a Richard Petty. But he was a highly skilled driver and owner and will be remembered by the NASCAR faithful for his contribution to the sport.

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