Ray Elder Explained

Raymond Marvin Elder (August 19, 1942 – November 24, 2011)^[1] was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.

He participated primarily in west coast races at Riverside International Raceway and Ontario Motor Speedway from 1967 to 1978. He won races at Riverside in 1971 and 1972 driving for Fred Elder.^[2] Elder won 47 races on the NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Series, which is the second most all time. He won six NASCAR Western series championships: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1975.^[3]

Winning at the 1971 Motor Trend 500 race would essentially make him the first winner in NASCAR's "modern" history.

Elder graduated from Caruthers High School, earning Central California All-Star honors in football.^[4] His family owned a 240-acre farm about 15 miles southwest of Fresno, and he was joined on his pit crew by his brother and father.^[4]

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		Pts	Ref
1967	Elder Racing	96	Dodge	AUG	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	AWS	BRI	GPS	BGS	ATL	CLB	HCY	NWS	MAR	SVH	RCH	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	ASH	MGR	SMR	BIR	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						115th	106	[5]
1968				MGR	MGY	RSD	DAY	BRI	RCH	ATL	HCY	GPS	CLB	NWS	MAR	AUG	AWS	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	ASH	MGR	SMR	BIR	CAR	GPS	DAY	ISP	OXF	FDA	TRN	BRI	SMR	NSV	ATL	CLB	BGS	AWS	SBO	LGY	DAR	HCY	RCH	BLV	HBO	MAR	NWS	AUG	CLT	CAR	JFC						96th	-	[6]
				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	DOV	TPN	TRN	BLV	BRI	NSV	SMR	ATL	MCH	SBO	BGS	AWS	DAR	HCY	RCH	TAL	CLB	MAR	NWS	CLT	SVH	AUG	CAR	JFC	MGR	TWS	48th	433	[7]
1970				RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	RCH	CAR	SVH	ATL	BRI	TAL	NWS	CLB	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	SMR	MAR	MCH	RSD	HCY	KPT	GPS	DAY	AST	TPN	TRN	BRI	SMR	NSV	ATL	CLB	ONA	MCH	TAL	BGS	SBO	DAR	HCY	RCH	DOV	NCF	NWS	CLT	MAR	MGR	CAR	LGY							53rd	246	[8]
1971				RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	ONT	RCH	CAR	HCY	BRI	ATL	CLB	GPS	SMR	NWS	MAR	DAR	SBO	TAL	ASH	KPT	CLT	DOV	MCH	RSD	HOU	GPS	DAY	BRI	AST	ISP	TRN	NSV	ATL	BGS	ONA	MCH	TAL	CLB	HCY	DAR	MAR	CLT	DOV	CAR	MGR	RCH	NWS	TWS 46							NA	0	[9]

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	Elder Racing	96	Dodge	RSD	DAY	RCH												RSD	TWS	DAY	BRI	TRN	ATL	TAL	MCH	NSV	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	TWS	52nd	902.25	[10]
		96W					ONT	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	CLT	DOV	MCH
1973		96		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				58th	-	[11]
1974				RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	BRI	NSV	ATL	POC	TAL	MCH	DAR	RCH	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR			95th	2.27	[12]
		96W																															ONT
1975		95		RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT																			50th	372	[13]
		96W															RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	DAR	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	ONT
1976		96		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			58th	320	[14]
	Ray Hill	32	Plymouth																														ONT
1977	Dave Hill			RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	NWS	DAR	BRI	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT		106th	67	[15]
1978			Dodge	RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	NSV	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT		66th	254	[16]

Daytona 500

Year	Team	Manufacturer	Start	Finish
1969		Dodge	16	align=center style="background:#FFDF9F;"	10
1970			12	align=center style="background:#DFFFDF;"	11
1973		Dodge	15	align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"	18

Winston West Series

NASCAR Winston West 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		Pts	Ref
1966	Elder Racing	96	Dodge	RSD	S99	ASP	ASP	DCS	POR	ASP	OSS	VSP	S99	ASP	AMP	POR	SGB	CSF																2nd	2534	[17]
1967				AMP	SGB	RSD	CSP	SHA	SAL	POR	ASP	SGB	OSS	ASP	ACF	MED	SAL	JBA	YAK	EVG	ASP	CSP												2nd	2888	[18]
1968				RSD	ASP	FRE	VSP	ASP	AMP	DCS	POR	EVG	EUG	MED	OSS	TCR	YAK	EVG	RAS	BKS	S99	CSP	SGS											2nd	1049	[19]
1969				RSD	CSF	SGB	SON	EVG	TCR	YAK	DCS	SAL	JBA	OSS	SGS	SON	YAK	EVG	CPR	POR	SMS	SGB	TWS											1st	1060	[20]
1970				RSD	ASP	SGB	CSF	RSD	YAK	EVG	JBA	CRS	OSS	SGS	MED	SAL	SPS	TCR	WSP	S99	ASP	SGB												1st	1024	[21]
1971				RSD	ONT	OSS	SJS	CRS	S99	ASP	RSD	SAL	SPS	SKA	USP	POR	LSP	MED	DCS	CRS	OSS	SGS	BKS	CSP	EVG	IFS	YAK	SGB	TWS					1st	1471	[22]
1972				RSD		SJS	S99	SMN	TCR	YAK	EVG		MED	POR	IFS		SPS	LSP	WSP	SKA	RAS	CRS	OSS	SGS	CSP	BKS	EVG	USP	YAK	POR	ASP	WCR	SMN	1st	3108.5	[23]
		96W			ONT							RSD
		98														MER
1973		96		AMP	MAD	S99	AUR	KFS	CBS	USP	POR	SPS	WER	SGS		OSS	CSP	BKS	LAG	EVG	WSP	YAK	POR	AMP										3rd	1618.5	[24]
	Kranzler Racing	4	Chevy												CAJ
1974	Elder Racing	96	Dodge	RSD	AMP	S99		COR	SBP	ASP	RSD	WER	WSP	SPS	STA	USP	POR	MED	EUG	CBS	CAJ	CRS	ASP	AMP	CSP	EVG	YAK	POR	SGB	ASP				1st	1942	[25]
			Chevy				MSP
		96W	Dodge																												ONT
1975		95		RSD																														1st	1327.5	[26]
		96			LAG	MSP	ASP	RSD	ASP	USP	POR	EVG	SMS	CRS	CSP	ASP	EVG	YAK	POR	MSP
		96W																			ONT
1976		96		RSD	RSD	EVG	WSP	USP	POR	SHA	SGS	EVG	YAK	POR	LAG																			NA	0	[27]
	Ray Hill	32	Plymouth													ONT
1977	Dave Hill			RSD	LAG	ONT	SJS	MMR	ASP	RSD	SGS	YAK	EVG	WSP	USP	POR	AAS	CRS	ASP	SHA	POR	ONT	PHO											34th	209	[28]
1978			Dodge	RSD	AAS	S99	SHA	PET	MMR	RSD	IFS	YAK	WSP	LSP	EVG	POR	CRS	ASP	SON	SHA	CBS	YAK	OSS	ONT	PHO									4th	953	[29]
1983	Elder Racing	96	Dodge	S99	SON	RSD	YAK	EVG	SHA	RSD	CPL	RSD	PHO																					NA	0	[30]

Award

• Elder was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.^[31]
• He was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in its first class in 2002.

Notes and References

1. http://www.mopardealer.com/petty.htm, specifically http://www.mopardealer.com/_borders/Ray_Elder_Daytona_1973.jpg
2. News: Race Winner Goes Back To His Tractor. 16 November 2012. Tri City Herald. January 11, 1971. 27 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327210730/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bWEhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6YYFAAAAIBAJ&dq=bill%20amick&pg=2414%2C2041676. dead.
3. http://www.stockcarreunion.com/inductees/cont2002inductees.html 2002 inductees
4. News: Ray Elder Captures Riverside 500 Miler. Art. Glattke. The Fresno Bee. January 11, 1971. December 1, 2024. 17. Newspapers.com.
5. Web site: Ray Elder – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
6. Web site: Ray Elder – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
7. Web site: Ray Elder – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
8. Web site: Ray Elder – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
9. Web site: Ray Elder – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
10. Web site: Ray Elder – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
11. Web site: Ray Elder – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
12. Web site: Ray Elder – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
13. Web site: Ray Elder – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
14. Web site: Ray Elder – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
15. Web site: Ray Elder – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
16. Web site: Ray Elder – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. May 12, 2016.
17. Web site: Ray Elder – 1966 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
18. Web site: Ray Elder – 1967 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
19. Web site: Ray Elder – 1968 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
20. Web site: Ray Elder – 1969 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
21. Web site: Ray Elder – 1970 NASCAR Grand National West Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
22. Web site: Ray Elder – 1971 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
23. Web site: Ray Elder – 1972 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
24. Web site: Ray Elder – 1973 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
25. Web site: Ray Elder – 1974 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
26. Web site: Ray Elder – 1975 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
27. Web site: Ray Elder – 1976 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
28. Web site: Ray Elder – 1977 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
29. Web site: Ray Elder – 1978 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
30. Web site: Ray Elder – 1983 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. April 19, 2019.
31. Web site: Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame Home. Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame Home. 2017-02-03. 2017-07-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20170731195939/https://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees. dead.