Earle Canavan

Earle Samuel Canavan (December 5, 1937 – February 9, 2016) was an American racing driver from Fort Johnson, New York.^[1]

Earle Canavan
Born	(1937-12-05)December 5, 1937 Portadown, Northern Ireland
Died	February 9, 2016(2016-02-09) (aged 78)
NASCAR Cup Series career
68 races run over 13 years
Best finish	32nd - 1975 Winston Cup Series Season
First race	1969 Talladega 500 (Talladega)
Last race	1986 Goodwrench 500 (Rockingham)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Statistics current as of July 29, 2010.

Canavan immigrated to the United States from Northern Ireland in 1951. Always interested in racing and speed, he admired Malcolm Campbell and his land speed record car, "The Bluebird". Canavan built his first gas hot rod during high school. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army, serving his time at Fort Dix, New Jersey. After service and upon completing his gas rodder, Earle headed to California to compete in NHRA and IHRA events. As his interest in drag racing increased, he built the only Lincoln-powered AA/Fuel dragster, "The President Lincoln" and competed in National events and exhibitions. Preparing for entering oval track racing, Canavan became an independent competitor on the SCCA and FIA circuit with an American Motors Javelin.

Canavan participated in NASCAR Winston Cup part-time from 1969 to 1986. His best points result came in 1975 when he drove in 12 of the 30 races and finished 32nd in points. Canavan was an owner-driver, fielding his own car.^[2]

He also attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1979 but failed to make the race. He filed another entry for the race in 1981 but it was declined due to his lack of experience in open-wheel cars.^[3]

After his on track career, Canavan enjoyed building hot rods. He also manufactured aftermarket auto parts. working with his own new designs and special compounds.

Canavan was married to Elizabeth (Betty), since 1965. They had three daughters: Tracy Wager, Heather Gilbert and April Simmons.

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	NGNC	Pts	Ref
1969	Canavan Racing	31	AMC	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 26	CLB	MAR	NWS	CLT	SVH	AUG	CAR	JFC	MGR	TWS	NA	0	^[4]
1971	Canavan Racing	01	Plymouth	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 DNQ		CLT 33	DOV	CAR	MGR 30	RCH	NWS 29	TWS 34							63rd	213	^[5]
			Chevy																																									MAR 29

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	NWCC	Pts	Ref
1972	Canavan Racing	41	Plymouth	RSD	DAY	RCH	ONT 42	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR																						62nd	755.5	^[6]
		01												TAL DNQ	CLT	DOV 35	MCH	RSD	TWS	DAY	BRI	TRN 32	ATL	TAL	MCH 39	NSV	DAR	RCH	DOV 15	MAR	NWS			TWS 42
			Chevy																													CLT 31	CAR
1973			Plymouth	RSD	DAY DNQ	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL 22	NWS	DAR 12	MAR	TAL	NSV	CLT	DOV 34	TWS	RSD	MCH 12	DAY	BRI	ATL	TAL	NSV	DAR	RCH	DOV 24	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR				41st	1144.7	^[7]
1974				RSD	DAY DNQ	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV 16	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	BRI	NSV	ATL	POC 14	TAL	MCH 15	DAR 23	RCH	DOV 17	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR	ONT 30		46th	34.92	^[8]
1975				RSD	DAY	RCH 13				NWS 25	DAR 17	MAR																							32nd	1062	^[9]
			Dodge				CAR 31	BRI 23	ATL				TAL 17	NSV 17	DOV 34	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC 29	TAL	MCH 32	DAR 35	DOV 25	NWS	MAR	CLT	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	ONT
1976				RSD	DAY DNQ	CAR	RCH 18	BRI 17	ATL	NWS	DAR 19	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH 34	DAY	NSV	POC 36	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR 29	RCH	DOV 24	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT DNQ		43rd	610	^[10]
1977				RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	NWS	DAR 36	BRI	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV 23	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC 35	TAL	MCH 36	BRI	DAR 23	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL			57th	301	^[11]
		10																															ONT DNQ
1978		01		RSD	DAY DNQ	RCH 24	CAR 24	ATL	BRI	DAR 22	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV 20	CLT	NSV	RSD	MCH 33	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL 31	MCH 32	BRI	DAR 39	RCH	DOV 16	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT DNQ		42nd	559	^[12]
1979				RSD	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	NWS	BRI	DAR 35	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	TWS 18	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC 27	TAL	MCH 34	BRI	DAR 39	RCH 22	DOV 33	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	ATL	ONT	41st	456	^[13]
1982	Canavan Racing	13	Olds	DAY	RCH	BRI	ATL	CAR	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	POC	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH 37	BRI											102nd	-	^[14]
			Buick																						DAR 39	RCH	DOV	NWS	CLT	MAR	CAR	ATL	RSD
1985	Canavan Racing	01	Olds	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	RSD	POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV 36	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	RSD				91st	55	^[15]
1986			Pontiac	DAY	RCH	CAR 32	ATL	BRI DNQ	DAR DNQ	NWS DNQ	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	RSD	POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	RSD			114th	67	^[16]

Daytona 500

Year	Team	Manufacturer	Start	Finish
1973	Canavan Racing	Plymouth	DNQ
1974			DNQ
1976	Canavan Racing	Dodge	DNQ
1978	Canavan Racing	Dodge	DNQ

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	Pos.	Pts	Ref
1976	Canavan Racing	01	Dodge	RSD	RSD	EVG	WSP	USP	POR	SHA	SGS	EVG	YAK	POR	LAG	ONT DNQ										NA	-	^[17]
1977		10		RSD	LAG	ONT	SJS	MMR	ASP	RSD	SGS	YAK	EVG	WSP	USP	POR	AAS	CRS	ASP	SHA	POR	ONT DNQ	PHO			NA	-	^[18]
1978		01		RSD	AAS	S99	SHA	PET	MMR	RSD	IFS	YAK	WSP	LSP	EVG	POR	CRS	ASP	SON	SHA	CBS	YAK	OSS	ONT DNQ		NA	35	^[19]
		07																							PHO 16
1979		21	Dodge	RSD	MMR	RSD	EVG	YAK	POR	AAS	SHA	CRS	SON	EVG	SRP	POR	ASP	ONT	PHO 21							NA	30	^[20]
1982	Canavan Racing	13	Buick	MMR	S99	AAS	RSD	POR	WSP	SHA	EVG	SON	CDR	RSD	RSD	PHO 25										NA	26	^[21]
1983		59	Buick	S99	SON	RSD	YAK	EVG	SHA	RSD	CPL 18	RSD	PHO													NA	33	^[22]

References

1. "Earle Canavan – Obituary". legacy.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
2. Earle Canavan, Racing Reference, Retrieved 2010-07-29
3. Earle Canavan, Champ Car Stats, Retrieved 2010-07-29
4. "Earle Canavan – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
5. "Earle Canavan – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
6. "Earle Canavan – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
7. "Earle Canavan – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
8. "Earle Canavan – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
9. "Earle Canavan – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
10. "Earle Canavan – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
11. "Earle Canavan – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
12. "Earle Canavan – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
13. "Earle Canavan – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
14. "Earle Canavan – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
15. "Earle Canavan – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
16. "Earle Canavan – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
17. "Earle Canavan – 1976 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
18. "Earle Canavan – 1977 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
19. "Earle Canavan – 1978 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
20. "Earle Canavan – 1979 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
21. "Earle Canavan – 1982 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
22. "Earle Canavan – 1983 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.

External links

• Earle Canavan driver statistics at Racing-Reference