End of an Era

Art Bisch, seen here from the 1958 Indy 500, would lose his life less than two months after that year’s 500 in a crash at Lakewood.

The writing was on the wall in 1958. With conditions beginning to deteriorate at the one-mile track, Lakewood was on the cutting block for the big tours.

The final USAC Indy Car race was held there on July 4, 1958. Jud Larson, driving an Offy for John Zink, led 52 laps after problems befell a dominating performance from Rodger Ward to win the last event for the series at Lakewood.

The race is also notable for two reasons. The first is that it was the only appearance at the track for venerable racer A.J. Foyt.

The Texan started the event fifth on the grid, but would have issues with his Al Dean owned Offy that placed him 11th in the final run down, three laps behind the leader.

Lakewood co-promoter Ernie Trautman presents Johnny Beauchamp with the trophy for his 1959 NASCAR win at Lakewood.

The second reason was far darker.

32-year-old Art Bisch, of Phoenix, Arizona, started ninth on the grid. On the 39th lap of the 100-lap event, Bisch’s car went out of control, flipping twice.

He suffered multiple head and chest injuries, and died two days later.

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With construction of the new Atlanta International Raceway taking place in nearby Hampton, NASCAR looked at 1959 as being their final year of needing Lakewood on their schedule.

Midwestern racer Johnny Beauchamp won the first of two Grand National events at the track in March.

But it was the second Grand National event at the track for the year that would prove to be one of the most revered and famous moments in Lakewood and NASCAR history.