BESWICK CELEBRATES 60 YEARS IN DRAG RACING AT WORLD SERIES

story courtesy of Dean Fait

Arnie “the Farmer” Beswick celebrates 60 years in drag racing this year, getting his professional start in 1951.  He drove an Oldsmobile and won at the very first organized event in the Midwest, held in Half Day, Illinois.  In 1954, he traveled to Lawrenceville, Illinois to win his class at the very first nationally organized World Series of Drag Racing.  He won his class every single year for the next 9 years, making him the only driver to ever win 10 consecutive years.  In 1955 he also won at the very first NHRA Nationals, held that year in Great Bend, Kansas. 

When Cordova Dragway Park opened (then called Quad City Dragway), Arnie was one of the first racer’s down the track.  By 1960, he and his Pontiacs were so dominant, winning so often, that it was suggested by the track owner that he race somewhere else to give other racers a chance at winning.  That dominance not just locally, but on a national scale, started with the stock classes in the 50’s, the Super Stock and Factory Experimental classes of the early and mid 60’s, continuing with the Funny Car classes of the mid and late 1960’s and early ‘70’s. 

While a fire on his farm in 1972 kept “the Farmer” from driving a race car for several years, it didn’t keep him away from the track, as he worked as an announcer during some of the mid ‘80’s World Series.  His passion for the sport and ferocious competitiveness has never gone out and he returned to the track in 1986 in a Pontiac LeMans coupe.  His Pontiacs of recent years have only gotten faster, reaching speeds near 200 MPH in a couple ticks more than 7 seconds

Beswick will take on legendary Animal Jim in a match race on Saturday Evening at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 58th World Series of Drag Racing. The Pro Finale gets underway at 7 PM. Don't miss the action and a chance to Beswick on his 60th racing anniversary.