John Linville

{{Short description|American stock car driver}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2025}}{{Distinguish|text=electrical engineer John G. Linvill}}{{Infobox NASCAR driver | name = John Linville | image = | caption = | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|01|02}} | birth_place = Forsyth County, North Carolina, US | death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|11|01|1943|01|02}} | death_place = Kernersville, North Carolina, US | height =  | weight =  | achievements = | awards = | Total_Busch_Races = 136 | Years_In_Busch = 12 | Busch_Car_Team = | Prev_Busch_Pos = 57th | Prev_Busch_Year = 1992 | Best_Busch_Pos = 17th (1983, 1984, 1986) | First_Busch_Race = 1982 1982 Daytona 300 (Daytona) | Last_Busch_Race = 1992 SplitFire 200 (Dover) | First_Busch_Win = | Last_Busch_Win = | Busch_Wins = 0 | Busch_Top_Tens = 3 | Busch_Poles = 0 }} '''John Paul Linville''' (January 2, 1943 – November 1, 2005) was an American stock car driver, who raced from 1982 until 1995 in the division that would become the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Throughout his career, Linville made 136 starts in the series, where he finished in the top-ten three times.

== Racing career ==

=== Early career === Linville began racing at the age of twenty, when he entered a race at Bowman Gray Stadium with a car that he purchased for $99.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Racer Profile: John Paul Linville|url=http://www.insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/102108.html|access-date=2021-11-29|website=www.insiderracingnews.com}}</ref> He went on to win the Late Model Sportsman Division Championship at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1968, 1969, and 1971. Additionally, he won the 1970 Limited Sportsmen Championship at State Fairgrounds Speedway in Raleigh, NC.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}

=== National series === In 1982, Linville made his NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series debut at Daytona International Speedway in the Goody's 300 at the age of 39. This was the inaugural race for what would become the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Linville finished 20th in his self-owned No. 62 Pontiac. He competed in a total of eight races during his Rookie campaign, with his best finish coming at Caraway Speedway, where he finished eleventh. Overall, he finished 36th in points.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref>

Linville went on to make several more appearances in the series running nearly full-time from 1983 through 1987. His career best finish came at Martinsville Speedway in the 1987 Nationwise 150, where he finished 8th.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref> His top annual points performances came with a seventeenth-place finish in 1983, 1984, and 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Driver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref> His final race attempt came in 1995, when he attempted to qualify for a race at Myrtle Beach Speedway, but failed to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref> In total Linville competed in 136 races, finishing in the top-ten three times.

In addition to the Busch series, Linville attempted to qualify for two NASCAR Cup Series races, but failed to do so. He attempted to qualify for the 1988 Daytona 500<ref>{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref> and the Miller Genuine Draft 500 in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref> Both entries were in the No. 74 car owned by Bobby Wawak.

Linville's final professional race came in the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series in September 1998 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He finished 29th in the No. 90 Ford, owned by Ed Berrier.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Race Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Later life == Following his retirement from NASCAR, Linville worked as a general contractor at his self-owned business, Linville Home Builders, Inc., that he began in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FindLaw's Court of Appeals of North Carolina case and opinions.|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/nc-court-of-appeals/1371185.html|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Findlaw|language=en-US}}</ref> He also became involved in Kevin Harvick Incorporated, a race team co-owned by his daughter DeLana and her husband Kevin Harvick.<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Paul Linville Obituary (2005) Winston-Salem Journal|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/winstonsalem/name/john-linville-obituary?id=28505911|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Legacy.com}}</ref>

On November 1, 2005, Linville died after a battle with cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Third Annual John Paul Linville Memorial Golf Classic {{!}} SpeedwayMedia.com|url=https://speedwaymedia.com/2012/05/21/third-annual-john-paul-linville-memorial-golf-classic/|access-date=2021-11-30|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Family == John Linville is the son of Ernest Paul Linville and Floy Phipps Linville, both originally from Forsyth County, North Carolina. He was one of nine children. His younger brother, Richard "Dickie" Linville, also raced in 52 Busch Series races from 1982 until 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Driver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref>

Linville married Joyce Griffin on October 14, 1966, at the age of 23. Together they had one daughter DeLana Harvick, who was born on July 7, 1973. DeLana is married to NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-27|title=Kevin Harvick's Wife Delana Was Living the NASCAR Lifestyle Way Before She Met Her Husband|url=https://altdriver.com/racing/delana-harvick/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Engaging Car News, Reviews, and Content You Need to See - alt_driver|language=en-US}}</ref>

== 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.)

==== Winston Cup Series ==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%" ! colspan="43" |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 !{{Tooltip|NSCC|NASCAR Sprint Cup classification}} !Pts !Ref |- !1988 ! rowspan="2" |Wawak Racing ! rowspan="2" |74 ! |Chevy | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO | ATL ! n/a ! 0 !<ref>{{Cite web|title=Driver Season Stats|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref> |- !1990 !Pontiac | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| POC DNQ | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL ! n/a ! 0 !<ref>{{Cite web|title=Driver Season Stats|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/linvijo01/1990/W/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Racing-Reference|language=en-US}}</ref> |}

=====Daytona 500===== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Year ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Start ! Finish |- | 1988 | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet |align=center colspan=2 style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ |}

=====Busch Series===== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%" !colspan=41| NASCAR Busch 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 ! {{abbr|NBGNC|NASCAR Busch Grand National classification}} ! Pts |- ! 1982 ! rowspan=5| Linville Racing ! rowspan=2| 62 ! rowspan=6| Pontiac | style="background:#DFFFDF;"|DAY {{small|20}} | RCH | BRI | style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAR {{small|DNQ}} | DAR | HCY | SBO | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CRW {{small|21}} | RCH | LGY | DOV | HCY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT {{small|39}} | ASH | HCY | SBO | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|32}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CRW {{small|11}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SBO {{small|24}} | HCY | LGY | IRP | BRI | HCY | RCH | style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MAR {{small|17}} | style="background:#CFCFFF;"|CLT {{small|22}} | HCY | MAR | colspan=6| ! 36th ! 746 |- ! rowspan=2| 1983 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY {{small|31}} | RCH | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|36}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|19}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR {{small|12}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS {{small|23}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO {{small|13}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GPS {{small|16}} | LGY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV {{small|18}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI {{small|29}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT {{small|40}} | SBO | HCY | ROU | SBO | ROU | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CRW {{small|12}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROU {{small|11}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO {{small|19}} | HCY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LGY {{small|20}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IRP {{small|15}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GPS {{small|17}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI {{small|12}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|20}} | | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH {{small|25}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS {{small|20}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SBO {{small|11}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR {{small|21}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROU {{small|13}} | CLT | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HCY {{small|13}} | style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MAR {{small|22}} ! rowspan=2|17th ! rowspan=2|2,690 |- ! 91 | colspan=26| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR {{small|28}} | colspan=8| |- ! rowspan=3| 1984 ! 62 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY {{small|27}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH {{small|14}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|26}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HCY {{small|16}} | MAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR {{small|29}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROU {{small|26}} | NSV | LGY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MLW {{small|21}} | colspan=3| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|19}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROU {{small|24}} | SBO | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROU {{small|22}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HCY {{small|17}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP {{small|11}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGY {{small|13}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SBO {{small|12}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI {{small|21}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR {{small|31}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH {{small|13}} | NWS | CLT | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HCY {{small|13}} | CAR | style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MAR {{small|12}} | colspan=6| !rowspan=3| 17th !rowspan=3| 2,035 |- ! 91 | colspan=10| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV {{small|17}} | colspan=30| |- ! Johnny Davis Racing ! 48 | colspan=11| |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT {{small|18}} | SBO | colspan=28| |- ! rowspan=5| 1985 ! Buddy Arrington Racing ! 29 ! Dodge | DAY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|23}} | colspan=3| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR {{small|26}} | colspan=29| ! rowspan=5| 18th ! rowspan=5| 2,046 |- ! rowspan=2| Linville Racing ! 62 ! rowspan=2| Pontiac | colspan=2| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HCY {{small|14}} | BRI | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR {{small|13}} | | style="background-color:#FFDF9F;"| SBO {{small|9}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LGY {{small|19}} | | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT {{small|18}} | SBO | HCY | ROU | | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SBO {{small|11}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LGY {{small|21}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|17}} | MLW | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI {{small|28}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR {{small|19}} | RCH | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS {{small|20}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROU {{small|19}} | CLT | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HCY {{small|19}} | | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR {{small|11}} | colspan=11| |- ! 2 | colspan=13| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP {{small|13}} | colspan=24| |- ! Baugess Racing ! 31 ! Olds | colspan=8| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV {{small|28}} | colspan=28| |- ! Johnny Talley Racing ! 78 ! Olds | colspan=25| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|25}} | colspan=12| |- ! rowspan=2| 1986 ! Linville Racing ! 62 ! rowspan=2| Pontiac | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY {{small|30}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|28}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|24}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR {{small|12}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI {{small|27}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR {{small|29}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO {{small|22}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGY {{small|18}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| JFC {{small|20}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV {{small|20}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT {{small|38}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO {{small|23}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HCY {{small|17}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROU {{small|19}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IRP {{small|19}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SBO {{small|15}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RAL {{small|16}} | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| OXF {{small|DNQ}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SBO {{small|15}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|23}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"|LGY {{small|23}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROU {{small|16}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI {{small|20}} | DAR | | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV {{small|24}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR {{small|17}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROU {{small|23}} | CLT | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR {{small|15}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR {{small|21}} | colspan=4| ! rowspan=2| 17th ! rowspan=2| 2,652 |- ! American Uniflex ! 43 | colspan=24| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH {{small|29}} | colspan=10| |- ! rowspan=7| 1987 ! Linville Racing ! 62 ! rowspan=2| Pontiac | DAY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|23}} | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MAR {{small|21}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR {{small|31}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI {{small|17}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LGY {{small|23}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SBO {{small|17}} | colspan=2| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IRP {{small|22}} | ROU | JFC | OXF | | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|24}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RAL {{small|17}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGY {{small|18}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROU {{small|23}} | BRI | JFC | | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH {{small|30}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV {{small|25}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR {{small|8}} | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CLT {{small|DNQ}} | | MAR | colspan=8| ! rowspan=7| 22nd ! rowspan=7| 1,871 |- ! rowspan=2| Graham Racing ! rowspan=2| 93 | colspan=7| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT {{small|26}} | colspan=27| |- ! Chevy | colspan=24| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT {{small|17}} | colspan=10| |- ! Shook Racing ! 95 ! Buick | colspan=8| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DOV {{small|19}} | colspan=26| |- ! Reedy Racing ! 08 ! Pontiac | colspan=13| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO {{small|26}} | colspan=21| |- ! Setzer Racing ! 86 ! Buick | colspan=20| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR {{small|42}} | colspan=14| |- ! Brolsma Racing ! 26 ! rowspan=2| Pontiac | colspan=25| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|35}} | colspan=9| |- ! rowspan=2| 1988 ! rowspan=8| Linville Racing ! rowspan=6| 62 | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY {{small|DNQ}} | HCY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR {{small|31}} | MAR | DAR | BRI | LNG | NZH | SBO | NSV | CLT | DOV | ROU | LAN | LVL | MYB | OXF | SBO | colspan=17| ! rowspan=2|72nd ! rowspan=2|158 |- ! rowspan=2| Olds | colspan=18| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|25}} | LNG | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | CAR | MAR | colspan=5| |- ! 1989 | DAY | CAR | MAR | HCY | DAR | BRI | NZH | SBO | LAN | NSV | CLT | DOV | ROU | LVL | VOL | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MYB {{small|18}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO {{small|25}} | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HCY {{small|22}} | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DUB {{small|22}} | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IRP {{small|22}} | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR {{small|14}} | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CLT {{small|DNQ}} | CAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR {{small|27}} | colspan=6| ! 42nd ! 691 |- ! 1990 ! rowspan=5| Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | MAR | HCY | DAR | BRI | LAN | SBO | NZH | HCY | CLT | DOV | ROU | VOL | MYB | OXF | NHA | SBO | DUB | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NHA | CAR | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR {{small|10}} | colspan=4| ! 82nd ! 134 |- ! 1991 | DAY | RCH | CAR | MAR | VOL | HCY | DAR | BRI | LAN | SBO | NZH | CLT | DOV | ROU | HCY | MYB | GLN | OXF | NHA | SBO | DUB | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| IRP {{small|DNQ}} | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | NHA | CAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR {{small|22}} | colspan=4| ! 92nd ! 97 |- ! rowspan=2| 1992 | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | MAR | DAR | BRI | HCY | LAN | DUB | NZH | CLT | DOV | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROU {{small|17}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MYB {{small|12}} | GLN | VOL | NHA | TAL | IRP | ROU | MCH | NHA | BRI | DAR | RCH | colspan=9| ! rowspan=2|57th ! rowspan=2|312 |- ! 82 | colspan=26| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV {{small|30}} | CLT | MAR | CAR | HCY | colspan=4| |- ! 1995 ! 62 | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | NSH | DAR | BRI | HCY | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MYB {{small|DNQ}} | GLN | MLW | TAL | SBO | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | CAR | HOM | colspan=9| ! n/a ! 0 |- |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Racing-Reference driver|John_Linville}} * {{Racing-Reference owner|John_Linville}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Linville, John}} Category:1943 births Category:2005 deaths Category:People from Kernersville, North Carolina Category:Sportspeople from Forsyth County, North Carolina Category:NASCAR drivers Category:NASCAR team owners