Colwell was convicted Wednesday on four counts that prosecutors say involved falsifying company records to save money on worker's compensation insurance premiums.
Each count can bring up to five years in prison.
Elliot told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Colwell was there to help when several members of his pit crew were struck and injured at Riverside in 1987, and he was there trying to get help for crewman Michael Rich, who was killed at Atlanta in 1990.
Colwell also spent countless hours with Elliott's nephew Casey before the youngster died of cancer in 1996, and he was there with Elliott when Elliott broke his foot at Charlotte last month.
Elliott plans to speak for his friend at the September sentencing hearing, even if it means missing qualifying or possibly a race.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/6/176869