Al Loquasto

Albert John (Al) Loquasto (Jr.)[1] (June 21, 1940 – July 31, 1991), was an American racecar driver.

Al Loquasto
NationalityUnited States American
BornAlbert John Loquasto, Jr.
(1940-06-21)June 21, 1940
Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJuly 31, 1991(1991-07-31) (aged 51)
Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Champ Car career
60 races run over 15 years
Years active1967, 1969–1980, 1982–1983
Best finish19th – 1975
First race1969 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Last race1983 Domino's Pizza 500 (Pocono)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Cup Series career
6 races run over 2 years
Best finish81st (1982)
First race1981 Mountain Dew 500 (Pocono)
Last race1982 Busch 500 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, Loquasto died in a plane crash in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania. He drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series, racing in the 1969–1980 and 1982–1983 seasons, with 61 combined career starts, including the 1976 and 1977 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his best finish in 7th position in 1975 at Ontario.

Loquasto's 1972 Gurney Eagle, which he drove during the 1982 CART season.

Loquasto raced on a tight budget, fielding his own cars which were often several years old. He qualified for his first Indy 500 after receiving technical assistance from Clint Brawner. [2]

He also drove six NASCAR races from 1981 to 1982. Prior to his open-wheel career, Loquasto was a five-time national hillclimbing champion. Loquasto's chief occupation was as the owner of APCO, Inc., an automotive warranty company, and he was a veteran of the Vietnam War. [3] Loquasto was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. [4]

Al Loquasto was the first cousin of Sicilian-American scenic designer and costume designer Santo Loquasto, and a distant cousin of Sicilian-American author Angelo F. Coniglio. All are descendants of Libertino lo Guasto,[5] a foundling born in Serradifalco, Sicily in 1796. Al Loquasto's survivors include his spouse Sandra Loquasto and son A.J. (III) Loquasto.

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.)

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
1981 Ulrich Racing 99 Buick RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC
24		 TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD NA - [6]
1982 6 DAY RCH BRI ATL CAR DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC
16		 RSD MCH DAY NSV POC
29		 TAL
24		 MCH
36		 BRI
37		 DAR RCH DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR ATL RSD 81st - [7]

Indianapolis 500
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1970 Gerhardt Offy Practice Crash
1971 Gerhardt Ford Practice Crash
1972 Gerhardt Offy Failed to Qualify
1973 McLaren Offy Practice Crash
1974 McLaren Offy Failed to Qualify
1975 McLaren Offy Failed to Qualify
1976 McLaren Offy 24th 25th
1977 McLaren Offy 15th 28th
1978 McLaren Offy Failed to Qualify
1979 Eagle Offy Failed to Qualify
1980 McLaren Cosworth Failed to Qualify
1982 Eagle Offy Failed to Qualify
1983 Penske Cosworth Failed to Qualify
1984 March Cosworth Sold Car

References
  1. "Al Loquasto". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. Call, PAUL REINHARD, The Morning (August 1991). "DESPITE RACING SETBACKS, LOQUASTO NEVER GAVE UP". mcall.com. Retrieved 2021-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Brown, Allen. "Al Loquasto". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  4. Call, KRISTIN CASLER, The Morning (August 1991). "WEISENBERG PLANE CRASH KILLS RACE DRIVER AL LOQUASTO, FRIEND". mcall.com. Retrieved 2021-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Original documents for Libertino lo Guasto
  6. "Al Loquasto – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  7. "Al Loquasto – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
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