Championship crew chief 'Suitcase Jake' Elder dies

J.C. "Jake" Elder, a longtime crew chief in the Cup Series, died Wednesday in Statesville, N.C. He was 73.

Elder was the crew chief for David Pearson's championship seasons of 1968 and '69. Elder, who led Dale Earnhardt to his first Cup Series victory on April 1, 1979, at Bristol, began the 1980 season as Earnhardt's crew chief before quitting in May; Earnhardt went on to win the title with crew chief Doug Richert.

Elder

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of Jake Elder," said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "He was one of the true pioneers and classic personalities of our sport. One of my most vivid memories of Jake is asking him what happened to one of his meticulously prepared cars and Jake putting it so succinctly and simply in saying, 'It blowed up.' "

Known as "Suitcase Jake" because he never settled down with one team for very long, Elder began his NASCAR career in 1960 as a fabricator for Petty Enterprises. Ultimately, he was among those who helped mold the likes of Benny Parsons, Darrell Waltrip and Earnhardt.

Motorsports writer Steve Waid once penned, "Perhaps there was not a more truly gifted shade tree mechanic in stock-car racing, one who succeeded without formal education. Elder never got past the third grade and could neither read nor write.

"And perhaps there was never a keener observer and nurturer of raw talent."

Elder is survived by three children, Randy, Andy and Sandy Elder Maxwell.