1955 – Beauchamp Licks Dust to Capture First Place

Johnny Beauchamp

Sioux Falls, S.D. (August 25, 1955) – Leading nearly all the way, 32-year-old Johnny Beauchamp of Harlan, Iowa, swirled to first place in the late model stock car 90-minute marathon at the Sioux Empire Fair.

Beauchamp, a graduate of modified stock cars, sailed a ’55 Chevy through the wind and dust to nail down hi second straight International Motor Contest Association victory. Only last Sunday, he won a 100-lapper at Wausau, Wis. His car is owned by George Short of Omaha, Neb.

With the thermometer bobbing above 100 degrees and a strong wind whipping across the track, the half-mile oval was unable to contain the thousands of gallons of water poured into the track overnight. As a result, drivers fought dusty conditions all afternoon long.

Beauchamp led all but 32 laps of the 90-minute time limit and racked up a total of 157 laps to win. The only time he wasn’t in front of the 14-car field was from lap 31 to 63 when national champion Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, led in his new ’55 Oldsmobile.

But White had mechanical difficulties and had to retire to the pits after 65 laps.

Second place went to Bob Hilmer, the Dysart, Iowa, driver who set a new national one-lap record here earlier this summer with a clocking of 29.70 seconds. Hilmer, driving a ’55 Oldsmobile, drove a steady race and ran up 154 laps. Wayne Chadwick, Des Moines, Iowa, was third in a 1955 Chevrolet. None of the top three finishers took a pit stop.

Fourth place went to Tiny Lund, Anita, Iowa, in a ‘55 Chevrolet and Bob Brown, Springfield, Mo., in a ’55 Thunderbird, rounded out the top-five finishers.

Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La., who set fast time with a clocking of 32.34 seconds in his Thunderbird, dropped out of the race on the 43rd lap while driving in fifth. He had been running in second until he dropped off the pace.


Results –


1. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
2. Bob Hilmer, Dysart, Iowa
3. Wayne Chadwick, Des Moines
4. Tiny Lund, Anita, Iowa
5. Bob Brown, Springfield, Mo.
6. Jim Schaefer, St. Paul, Minn.
7. Paul Newkirk, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
8. Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9. Jack Kasperian, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
10.Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
11.Jerry Draper, Moline, Ill.
12.Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa