Jack Choquette

Jack Choquette
Born	December 28, 1928 Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Died	February 23, 2013 (aged 84) Loxahatchee, Florida, USA
Achievements	1954 NASCAR Modified Champion
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
6 races run over 2 years
Best finish	54th (1955)
First race	1955 Race #2 (West Palm Beach)
Last race	1956 Race #6 (Daytona Beach)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 2 0

John "Jack" Choquette (December 28, 1928 – February 23, 2013) was an American stock car and modified stock car racing driver. He was the winner of the 1954 NASCAR Modified Division championship, and was the grandfather of current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Jeff Choquette.

Career

Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Choquette made his name in racing in southern Florida, having moved from New Jersey to make his home in Lake Worth.^[1] He was a regular competitor at Palm Beach Speedway and Medley Speedway during the 1950s, in addition to competing at other Florida tracks.^[2][3] Competing in NASCAR's Modified division, he won the series' 1953 Southeastern regional championship,^[4] and in 1954 was awarded the national NASCAR Modified championship,^[5] beating Tommy Elliott, Banjo Matthews and Cotton Owens for the title.^[6]

In 1955 and 1956, Choquette made six starts in the NASCAR Grand National Division, now known as the Sprint Cup Series; his best finish in the series was second, which he achieved in his first race in the series in February 1955 at Palm Beach Speedway.^[7][8] His final race in the Grand National Division was on the Daytona Beach Road Course in February 1956; he started seventh in the event,^[9] but finished 68th in a field of 76 cars.^[10] He remained a regular Modified driver into the 1960s,^[11] as well as competing in the Micro division at Boynton Speedway.^[12]

Choquette's son, John, and grandson, Jeff, both followed him into racing careers; Jack assisted his grandson's racing efforts in ASA and NASCAR competition.^[13]

Choquette died on February 23, 2013; he was buried in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, leaving four children, seventeen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.^[14]

References

Citations

1. Tays, Alan (June 11, 2004). "'Championship Material'". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, FL. p. 1B. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
2. "Jack Choquette Now Knows He's Second At Track". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, FL. March 5, 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
3. "Jack Choquette Takes 2 Races". The Miami News. Miami, FL. October 18, 1954. p. 12A. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
4. "Jack Choquette Wins Second Labor Day Race". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, FL. September 6, 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
5. Menke 1960, p.45
6. "Jack Choquette Wins NASCAR Modified Title". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. November 25, 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
7. "Jack Choquette - NASCAR Sprint Cup Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
8. Gunnell 1994, p.98.
9. "1956-06". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
10. "Today In History: December 28". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports. December 28, 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
11. "Redfearn and Choquette Continue Rivalry Today". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, FL. January 2, 1960. p. 35. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
12. "Micro Feature To Choquette". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, FL. October 3, 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
13. Demmons, Doug (October 28, 2007). "Slocumb wins Alabama 125 at BIR; Choquette wins series title". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, AL. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
14. "Former Modified Champ Choquette Dies". National Speed Sport News. March 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-01.

Bibliography

• Gunnell, John (1994). Race Car Flashback. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0873413091
• Menke, Frank Grant (1960). The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Sports. Glenview, IL: Progress Research Corp. ASIN B00215F3YK

External links

• Jack Choquette driver statistics at Racing-Reference