JOHNNY BEAUCHAMP - 03/23/1923 - 04/17/1981
American NASCAR racer from Harlan, Iowa. He is best known for finishing second at the 1959 Daytona 500 in a photo finish after being declared the unofficial winner. In 23 NASCAR starts he had ten Top 10 finishes, seven Top 5 finishes, and two victories. In the 1959 Daytona 500; Beauchamp crossed the finish line at about the same time as Lee Petty. Beauchamp was declared the unofficial winner of the race, so he drove the Holman Moody owned Ford to victory lane. Petty protested the win. "I had him by two feet," Beauchamp said. "I glanced over to Lee Petty's car as I crossed the finish line and I could see his headlight slightly back of my car. It was so close I didn't know how they would call it, but I thought I won." NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. studied photographs and news reals for three days before declaring Petty the official winner. He competed in seven events that season, recording his first 'official' NASCAR victory in Atlanta's Lakewood
Speedway the week after Daytona. Beauchamp's first Cup race was in Rapid City Iowa. Out of 15 cars in the race; Johnny's car would have radiator issues after only 34 laps and he'd finish last. He ran three races in 1953 in his home state of Iowa; then didn't race from 1954-1956. In 1957 he ventured down to Daytona to race on the beach course. He started 13th and finished second to Cotton Owens when the checkered flag fell. As mentioned above he would win his first race at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway in 1959. He started on the pole, led all 100 laps and beat second place Buck Baker by over a lap. In 1960 he raced for Holman Moody and Dale Swanson in eleven events. He won his second and final NASCAR race that year at a 400 lap event at Nashville Speedway USA. He would start second; along
1959 Daytona 500 - Petty (#42) Beauchamp (#73)
1961 - Beauchamp and Petty leave the park
side Rex White. At lap 333 Beauchamp would be leading when it started to rain and the race was called official. In 1961 Beauchamp and Petty were involved in an accident at the 1961 Daytona 500 qualifying race just three laps from the finish. Leader Banjo Matthews lost control of his car, spinning in front of the field. Lee Petty and Beauchamp's cars sailed out of turn four and landed outside of the racetrack. Petty suffered career ending injuries, though he came back for a few more races. Even though Johnny only suffered minor head injuries; Beauchamp would retire and this would be his final race also. Info from WikiPedia
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