Cavin Robert Councilor[1] (born August 27, 1963 – June 19, 2002) was an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He had competed in the ARCA Re/Max Series from 1997 to 2001.

Cavin Councilor
BornCavin Robert Councilor
(1963-08-27)August 27, 1963
Flint, Michigan
DiedJune 19, 2002(2002-06-19) (aged 38)
Naples, Florida
ARCA Menards Series career
57 races run over 5 years
Best finish9th (1999)
First race1997 MediaOne 200 (Michigan)
Last race2001 Memphis ARCA 150 (Memphis)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 10 0
Statistics current as of March 26, 2024.

Racing career

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In 1997, Councilor made his debut in the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series at Michigan International Speedway, driving his self-owned No. 95 Ford, where he was running as high as second in the race before finishing 30th due to a crash that was the result of a broken axle. He then made one more ARCA start that year at Talladega Superspeedway, where he finished four laps down in fourteenth place. It was also during this year where he made select starts in the USAR Pro Cup Series, getting a best finish of fourteenth at Birmingham International Raceway. In 1998, he expanded his ARCA program, running in a majority of the races held that year with four top-tens with a best finish of seventh at Kil-Kare Speedway and Winchester Speedway.[2]

In 1999, Councilor ran the full ARCA schedule, driving the No. 19 Chevrolet. Across the year, he earned one top-five and four top-ten finishes with a best finish of fifth at Winchester, where he started on the front row. He then ran all but two races the following year in 2000, getting two top-ten finishes at Kentucky Speedway and Berlin Raceway on his way to finish thirteenth in the final points standings.

In 2001, Councilor made only two starts, finishing 29th at Nashville Superspeedway due to a crash, and thirteenth at Memphis Motorsports Park, which proved to be his final start as a driver.[3] Despite his driver career ending, he still remained in the now ARCA Re/Max Series as a team-owner, with multiple drivers piloting the No. 19, with Ed Berrier drive a majority of the races held that year, and taking a win at Chicagoland Speedway. He also fielded a NASCAR Busch Series entry for Berrier at Kansas Speedway, where Berrier finished in 43rd to due a crash ten laps into the race.

Personal life & death

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Councilor graduated from Michigan State High School in 1981, where he was a cross-country champion,[4] and attended Florida State University, receiving dual bachelor's degrees in both criminology and economics.[5]

Death

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On June 19, 2002, Councilor was flying a single-engine, propeller-driven Piper PA-46 alongside two other passengers in Naples, Florida, when the plane hit nose first just after taking off near the Collier County Humane Society. Councilor and the two passengers, Shawn Michael King and an unidentified second passenger, perished in the crash.[6] Witnesses stated that they could hear the engine of the plane cutting out, while some stated that they saw the propeller of the plane stopped, which caused the plane to take a sudden and uncontrolled nose-low descent and make subsequent contact with the ground.[1]

The investigation into the case concluded that the crash was likely the result of the pilot's failure to maintain air speed whilst maneuvering to land after the engine ceased operating, which resulted in the plane stalling, then taking an uncontrolled descent. They were not able to determine what caused the engine to fail. Toxicology reports also indicated that Councilor had diphenhydramine in his urine and blood.[1]

Motorsports career results

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ARCA Re/Max Series

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max 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 ARMSC Pts Ref
1997 Cavin Councilor 95 Ford DAY ATL SLM CLT CLT POC MCH SBS TOL KIL FRS MIN POC MCH
30
DSF GTW SLM WIN CLT TAL
14
ISF ATL N/A 0 [7]
1998 19 Chevy DAY
Wth
ATL
28
SLM
7
CLT
20
MEM
33
SBS
27
TOL PPR
17
ATL
29
DSF SLM
12
TEX
DNQ
WIN
7
CLT
33
TAL
DNQ
ATL
30
17th 2070 [8]
Ford MCH
40
POC POC
27
KIL
7
FRS
10
ISF
1999 Chevy DAY
25
ATL
8
SLM
16
AND
27
CLT
22
MCH
16
POC
15
TOL
17
SBS
18
BLN
7
POC
19
KIL
7
FRS
17
FLM
14
ISF
19
WIN
5
DSF
33
SLM
13
CLT
29
TAL
15
ATL
30
9th 4250 [9]
2000 DAY
15
SLM
15
AND
27
CLT
18
KIL
23
FRS
16
MCH
19
POC
35
TOL
17
KEN
9
BLN
9
POC
31
WIN
12
ISF
15
KEN DSF
26
SLM
13
CLT
38
TAL
34
ATL 13th 2785 [10]
2001 DAY NSH
29
WIN SLM GTY KEN CLT KAN MCH POC MEM
13
GLN KEN MCH POC NSH ISF CHI DSF SLM TOL BLN CLT TAL ATL 166th 85 [11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "CAVIN ROBERT COUNCILOR". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "Cavin Councilor – 1997 Hooters Pro Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Cavin Councilor". The Third Turn. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "Cavin Councilor". NoleFan.org. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Cavin Councilor, A Master At The Art Of Living". Florida Stock Car Racing. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "Councilor killed in crash". ESPN. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "Cavin Councilor – 1997 ARCA Bondo-Mar/Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Cavin Councilor – 1998 ARCA Bondo-Mar/Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Cavin Councilor – 1999 ARCA Bondo-Mar/Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  10. ^ "Cavin Councilor – 2000 ARCA Bondo-Mar/Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "Cavin Councilor – 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
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