Al Keller

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

Al Keller
Born	Alvah August Keller (1920-04-11)April 11, 1920 Alexander, New York, U.S.
Died	November 19, 1961(1961-11-19) (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)
Wins Top tens Poles 2 12 1
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)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 4 2
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

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 second two times (Atlanta in 1956, and Milwaukee in 1961). His best Indy 500 finish was fifth in 1961.

Death

Keller died as a result of injuries sustained in a Champ Car crash at the Arizona State Fairgrounds track.^{[citation needed]}

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1955 42 22 139.551 17 27 54 0 Crash BS 1956 55 28 141.193 26 14 195 0 Flagged 1957 16 8 141.398 14 27 75 0 Crash T1 1958 52 21 142.931 19 11 200 0 Running 1959 57 28 142.057 27 18 163 0 Piston 1961 19 26 146.157 6 5 200 0 Running Totals 887 0

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