1956 - White Wins 100-Miler; Track Record Erased

 

Don White is presented his trophy by country and western star Johnny Horton after winning the Cotton Belt Stock Car Championship at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds.

Shreveport, La. (May 6, 1956) – Don White blistered the Louisiana State Fair’s half-mile track on Sunday afternoon to take the biggest share of the $2,500 purse and the second annual 100-mile Cotton Belt Stock Car Championship.

White encountered constant pressure. He clocked 31.01 seconds in time trials, but it was bettered by Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex., driving a 1956 Chevrolet. Morgan set a new local track record by qualifying in 30.62 seconds and followed it up by taking second place in the first 50 miles of the Cotton Belt.

Morgan’s grip on the record was a short one for the mark and shattered four times during the first 100 laps. White shattered the record twice on laps of 30.18, and then 30.05 seconds. Two other record smashers were Johnny Beauchamp of Harlan, Iowa, whose 30 seconds flat on the 56th lap is the new accepted mark. Roxy Dancy of Shreveport churned out a 30.11 second lap on 86th go-round.

Beauchamp led the first 50 miles followed by Dancey, Lennie Funk of Otis, Kan., and Dick Jepson of Hoxie, Kan. White encountered trouble when he was briefly forced out of the first 50-miler with a broke axle on the 84th lap.

The second 50-miler was copped by White in the time of 52 minutes and 47 seconds to qualify for the Cotton Belt. Close on White’s heels were Morgan, Funk, Bill Burdick of Omaha, Neb., and Les McClune of What Cheer, Iowa.

Les Dykes of Davenport, Iowa, driver of a ’56 Pontiac, escaped injury in what was one of the most exciting mishaps of the race. Dyke’s car threw a wheel and almost flipped while he was driving on the straightaway in front of the grandstand. The accident occurred on the 48th lap.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Johnny Beauchamp, Harlan, Iowa
2. Roxy Dancey, Shreveport
3. Lennie Funk, Otis, Kan.
4. Dick Jepson, Hoxie, Kan.


Feature #2 –

1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Sonny Morgan, Beaumont, Tex.
3. Lennie Funk
4. Bill Burdick, Omaha, Neb.
5. Les McClune, What Cheer, Iowa
6. Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa
7. Ralph Dyer, Shreveport
8. Johnny Beauchamp
9. Les Dykes, Davenport, Iowa
10.Roxy Dancey