Al Keller

Al Keller
Al Keller
Born	Alvah August Keller; April 11, 1920; Alexander, New York, U.S.
Died	November 19, 1961 (aged 41); Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
NASCAR Cup Series career
	29 races run over 6 years
Best finish	32nd (1949)
First race	1949 Race 4 (Langhorne)
Last race	1956 Race 9 (Lakewood)
First win	1954 Race 5 (Savannah)
Last win	1954 International 100 (Linden Airport)
Champ Car career
	31 races run over 8 years
Years active	1954–1961
Best finish	5th – 1961
First race	1954 Syracuse 100 (Syracuse)
Last race	1961 Bobby Ball Memorial (ASF)
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1955–1960
Teams	Kurtis Kraft, Kuzma
Entries	6 (5 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1955 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1960 Indianapolis 500

Alvah August “Al” Keller^[1] (April 11, 1920 in Alexander, New York – November 19, 1961 in Phoenix, Arizona) was an American racecar driver.

NASCAR

Keller participated in the NASCAR Strictly Stock/Grand National series from 1949 to 1956 with 29 career starts. He won two races during the 1954 season and was the first driver in the history of NASCAR's top division to have won a race in a foreign-built car. Keller won the 1954 Grand National road-race at the Linden Airport in New Jersey, driving a Jaguar owned by big band leader Paul Whiteman. He also won by a two-lap margin at Oglethorpe Speedway in 1954.^[2]

IndyCar

In 1954 Keller began a transition to Championship Cars. He drove in the AAA and USAC Champ Car series, racing in the 1954-1959 and 1961 seasons with 32 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 six times. He was involved in the crash that killed Bill Vukovich in 1955. He finished in the top ten 13 times, with a best finish of 2nd two times (Atlanta in 1956, and Milwaukee in 1961). His best Indy 500 finish was 5th in 1961.

Death

Keller died as a result of injuries sustained in a Champ Car crash at the Arizona State Fairgrounds track.

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Retired
1955	42	22	139.551	17	27	54	Crash BS
1956	55	28	141.193	26	14	195	Flagged
1957	16	8	141.398	14	27	75	Crash T1
1958	52	21	142.931	19	11	200	Running
1959	57	28	142.057	27	18	163	Piston
1961	19	26	146.157	6	5	200	Running
Totals						887

Starts	6
Poles	0
Front Row	0
Wins	0
Top 5	1
Top 10	1
Retired	3

References

^ "Al Keller". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
^ Albert, Zack (January 2, 2020). "Driver by Number: Connections and success with every car number". NASCAR.com. Retrieved May 11, 2020.