Jake Elder: A racing original

Tom Higgins, a veteran beat writer for the Observer, stock car racing historian and ThatsRacin.com contributor, on Jake Elder:

“In all my years of covering stock car racing, Jake Elder was among the very most colorful characters I met and wrote about.

“His comment to rookie Dale Earnhardt at Bristol’s spring race in 1979 was and will remain a NASCAR classic. Jake, the crew chief for Earnhardt in his rookie season, told Dale on the eve of the race, ‘Stick with me, kid, and we’ll both be wearing diamonds as big as horse turds.’

“Jake’s eye for talent obviously was as good as his ability to make a car handle. Dale won the race the next day, his first victory in a career that produced seven Cup crowns.

“As Jake had foreseen, Dale won enough money to encrust all these crowns with diamonds.

“Jake loved getting something on NASCAR officials, some of whom he suspected had a vendetta against him.

"I think the happiest I ever saw him was a time in the 1970s at Talladega when an official told Jake a car he was fielding for Benny Parsons had failed inspection because it didn’t fit the template.

“ ’You dummy!’ screamed Jake.

“ 'You’re using the template for another make of car!’ ”

And he was right.