1948 – Minneapolis Driver Wins at Milwaukee

Paul Bjork

Milwaukee, Wis. (August 22, 1948) – Paul Bjork of Minneapolis, wheeled his 1948 Frazier to victory in the 100-mile stock car race at State Fair Park on Sunday but needed the help of a recording machine to annex the win.

For the second straight week, a calculating machine was used to determine the winner of a race on the 1-mile dirt track at State Fair Park.

The apparent winner was Johnny Dietz of Milwaukee behind the wheel of a 1941 Cadillac. But a recheck gave Bjork the victory and Dietz was moved to second place in the first stock car race here in many years.

Bjork’s victory was worth $1,878 and Dietz collected $1,658 for his runner-up finish. Neither was forced to take a pit stop. Temperatures in the high 80’s gave plenty of trouble to the 20 starters and only 12 of them were still on the track when the checkered flag waved.

The winning time was 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 3 seconds.

Third place went to Andy Granatelli of Chicago, driving a 1947 Ford. He was followed by Norman Nelson of Racine piloting a 1946 Ford, and Jim Rathmann of Los Angeles in a 1940 Ford.

A 1939 Ford, driven by Chick Beverlen of Calumet City, Ill., blew a right rear tire late in the race and overturned on the 98th lap. Beverlen suffered minor injuries although his car was completely demolished.

Only standard stock cars were eligible and stripped-down hot rods, cars with souped up motors, and other doctored vehicles were banned.

The racing program attracted 23,259 spectators.


Results –


1. Paul Bjork
2. Johnny Dietz
3. Andy Granatelli
4. Norman Nelson
5. Jim Rathmann
6. Chuck Bailey
7. Frank Burany
8. Chick Beverlen
9. Emil Andres
10.Joe Granatelli
11.Herb Wachel
12.Bill Van Allen
13.Sarge Overmyer
14.Allen Swenson
15.Harry Tann



Editor’s Note – Paul Bjork, who was also an experienced pilot and co-owned Twin City Parachute Company, which flew exhibition jumpers, would perish in a crash over Lake Minnetonka on December 27, 1948.