October 21, 2008
By Allen Madding
John Paul Linville was born on January 2, 1943 in Kernersville, North Carolina. At age 20, he bought his first race car for $99 and entered a stock car feature race at Bowman Gray Stadium and won his first time out. Over the next several years, Linville competed at Bowman Gray, North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Metrolina Speedway, Ace Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway.
He won the Late Model Sportsman Division Championship at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1968 and 1969. In 1970, he won 12 of 15 Limited Sportsman events at Raleigh Fairgrounds securing the State Limited Sportsman Championship at the track. The same year he was voted Most Popular Driver at Bowman Gray Stadium. In 1971, he again won the Late Model Sportsman Division Championship at Bowman Gray Stadium. In 1977, Linville won three of the nine Late Model Sportsman races he entered at 311 Speedway.
In 1982, Linville began competing in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. Linville’s debut in the series came at Daytona driving the No. 62 Automotive Specialist Pontiac to a 20th place finish in the Goody’s 300. He made eight starts in the NASCAR Busch series during the 1982 season. His best finish was an 11th place showing in the Goody’s 200 on the half mile asphalt Caraway Speedway in Asheville, North Carolina.
In 1983, Linville competed in 26 of the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series’ 35 scheduled events driving his No. 62 Pontiac. He recorded an 11th place finish in the Mello Yello 200 at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, North Carolina and an 11th place finish in the Miller 300 at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia. He finished 17th in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Championship points standings.
In 1984, Linville competed in 21 on the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series’ 29 events driving his No. 62 Flow Dynamics Pontiac, the No. 91 Jennette Boutique Pontiac, and the No. 48 Race Glaze Pontiac. He recorded an 11th place finish in the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He again finished 17th in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Championship points standings.
In 1985, Linville drove the No. 29 Longwood Restaurant Dodge, the No. 31 Baugess Racing Oldsmobile, the No. 78 Robert’s Used Cars Oldsmobile, and his own No. 62 Linville Racing Pontiac in 19 of the 27 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series events. He recorded his first top ten finish in the series scoring a ninth place finish in the Busch 200 at South Boston Speedway. He finished 18th in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Championship points standings.
In 1986, Linville campaigned his No. 62 Lemon’s Auto Parts/American Uniflex/Westmoreland Racing/Linville Racing Pontiac in 28 of the 31 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series events. His best finish of the year was a 12th place showing in the Miller 500 at Martinsville, Virginia. He finished 17th in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Championship points standings.
In 1987, Linville drove the No. 93 Granada Shell Pontiac, the No. 95 Jewelry Exchange Buick, the No. 08 Reedy Racing Pontiac, the No. 86 Setzer Racing Oldsmobile, the No. 93 Graham Racing Chevrolet, the No. 26 Cedar Ridge RV Sales Pontiac and his own No. 62 Lemon’s Auto Parts/Piedmont Sanitation Pontiac in 20 of the 27 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series events. He recorded a ninth place finish in the Nationwise 150 at Martinsville.
In 1988, Linville began cutting back on his schedule. He competed in two NASCAR Busch Grand National events suffering mechanical failures that resulted in DNF’s in both outings.
In 1989, Linville campaigned his No. 62 Lemon’s Auto Parts Oldsmobile in seven NASCAR Busch Grand National Series events. His best finish was a 14th place showing in the Zerex 150 at Martinsville.
In 1990, Linville competed in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Winston Classic 200-lap event at Martinsville recording a tenth place finish. In 1991, Linville finished 22nd in the same event. In 1992, Linville competed in three NASCAR Busch Series events. His best finish was a 12th place showing in the Carolina Pride/Budweiser 200 at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Linville retired from NASCAR competition at the end of 1990. He and his wife Joyce founded and operated Linville Home Builders, Inc in Kernersville. Their daughter DeLana married Kevin Harvick and Linville kept involved in Harvick’s racing operation until his death November 1, 2005 after battling cancer.
Linville made 136 starts in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series in 11 years recording three top ten finishes.
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