Bob Burdick
La Crosse, Wis. (August 10, 1958) – Young Bob Burdick, 22, of Omaha, Neb., took the lead on the 89th lap and went on to win the 100-lap stock car feature Sunday night at La Crosse Interstate Fair Speedway.
Burdick, driving a 1958 Ford, had an unimpressive performance during the afternoon program except for a victory in the 12-lap consolation, which he seldom is entered in.
Burdick replaced Johnny Beauchamp on lap 89 as the leader, passing him on the back straightaway after the defending IMCA national champion broke an A-frame. Beauchamp led for 64 laps from 25 – 88, while Burdick led for the last 12 circuits.
About 3,000 race fans watched the eventful night program which began with the 100-lap feature. Threatening weather influenced IMCA officials to change the racing program and move the two preliminary heats behind the 50-mile main event.
Records fell in all races since the track was faster than the new one that was raced on last year. The time for the 100-lap feature was 53 minutes and 45.07 seconds despite two caution flags that caused slowdowns for nine laps total.
Beauchamp faded after his unfortunate breakdown. It appeared for a time that the popular driver would repeat his 1957 performance when he swept both the afternoon and evening features. Beauchamp finally settled for fourth place, behind Burdick, Chub Liebe of Oelwein, Iowa, and Ernie Derr of Fort Madison, Iowa, in that order.
Beauchamp had taken the lead from afternoon winner Don White, who had led the first 24 laps.
Burdick moved in on Beauchamp, narrowing the gap that was once an impressive margin of nearly half the distance of the track. Beauchamp, however, probably could have held his lead to the completion of the race despite pressure from Burdick.
Only 13 of the 23 starters that started the 50-miler continued until Burdick won.
Results –
1. Bob Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
2. Chub Liebe, Oelwein, Iowa
3. Ernie Derr, Fort Madison, Iowa
4. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
5. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
6. Ken Schultz, Wisconsin Rapids
7. Jerry Draper, Moline, Ill.
8. Frank Richards, Marion, Iowa
9. Bob Carpenter, Carlisle, Iowa
10.Jerry Peterson, Manitowoc
11.Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
12.Murray Folsom, Mechanicsville, Iowa
13.Milo Van Oudenhoven, Appleton
14.Dave Hirschfield, Chicago
15.Ben Pritzil, Two Rivers
16.Bruce Nystrom, Oshkosh
17.Ralph Wilhelm, Milwaukee
18.Whitey Traeder, Milwaukee
19.Chris Skadal, Des Moines
20.Larry Odo, Chicago
21.Dutch Munsinger, Tabor, Iowa
22.Bob Short, Des Moines
23. Vince Rizzo, Chicago
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