1977 Winchester 400
Encyclopedia
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
sanction on October 2, 1977, at the Winchester Speedway
Winchester Speedway
Winchester Speedway is a half-mile paved oval motor racetrack in White River Township, Randolph County, just outside Winchester, Indiana, approximately northeast of Indianapolis. It seats 4000 spectators. It is also known as the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile"....
, in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
(USA).
The 1977 Winchester 400
Winchester 400
The Winchester 400 is a 400-lap short-track stock car race held each fall at the Winchester Speedway, approximately east of Indianapolis, Indiana. Held annually since 1970, the race has served as a launching point for the careers of several young drivers including former winners Rusty Wallace and...
marked yet another comeback victory for Bob Senneker, as he rolled to an unprecedented fourth straight win in the biggest event of the ASA season. Former Sprint Car driver Dave Roahrig of Plymouth, Indiana
Plymouth, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,840 people, 3,838 households, and 2,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,414.0 people per square mile . There were 4,100 housing units at an average density of 589.2 per square mile...
looked to be on his way to breaking Senneker’s (Dorr, Michigan) win streak, but suffered a broken A-arm while leading, allowing Senneker to catch and pass him for the lead and the win with just 6 laps to go.
Setting fast time in qualifying for the second straight year, Senneker grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag, and was pulling away from the field, until a broken hood pin forced him to make an unscheduled pit stop on lap 39. Jerry Makara then assumed the lead for the first time in his career and would hold it until blistered right-side tires slowed his pace. Bob Sensiba was the next first-time leader as he blew past Makara on lap 59 and would hold the position until he pitted for fresh tires on lap 105.
Working steadily forward from his 12th starting position, Roahrig would become the third first-time leader of the event and would lead all but one of the next 113 laps. Roahrig pitted on lap 218 giving the lead to 1976 ASA Champion Mike Eddy
Mike Eddy
Mike Eddy is a stock car auto racer. He is most notable for racing in the now defunct American Speed Association . He was a seven time ASA National Champion, which is the most in ASA history. During his run in ASA Eddy drove the number 88 car.-ASA:Eddy won his 7 championships in 1974, 1976,...
. Proving to be a force to be reckoned with, Roahrig retook the lead on lap 259 and would hold it until being blocked in the pits under caution on lap 308. That handed the lead to race rookie Mark Martin. Fresh off a win in the National Short Track Championships at Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, the 18-year-old Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
youngster appeared to be headed for his second consecutive win in as many weeks as he built a one-lap lead over the field. Soon after, Martin’s engine began to sour, giving up the lead to Roahrig on lap 321 before retiring on lap 374.
The final caution period waved with 20 laps remaining setting up a late dash between Roahrig and Senneker. Back under green, Roahrig pulled away and appeared ready for victory, but began trailing a shower of sparks from his machine as a front A-arm began to fail. Senneker passed the slowing Roahrig on lap 393 and pulled away for a half-lap winning margin. Roahrig limped home to take second with Michigan drivers, Eddy, Sensiba, and Makara rounding out the top five. Senneker collected $6,835 for his fourth-straight win in the fall classic.
Table of results
| Results of the 8th Annual DRI-POWER Winchester 400 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Start | Car # | Driver/Hometown | Sponsor/Make | Laps | Winnings (in US$ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
Status | |
| 1 | 1 | 84 |  Bob Senneker / Dorr, MI |
Baker Engineering / Chevrolet | 400 | $6,835 | running | |
| 2 | 12 | 24 |  Dave Roahrig / Plymouth, IN |
Hop-Cap / Chevrolet | 400 | $5,495 | running | |
| 3 | 4 | 62 | Mike Eddy Mike Eddy Mike Eddy is a stock car auto racer. He is most notable for racing in the now defunct American Speed Association . He was a seven time ASA National Champion, which is the most in ASA history. During his run in ASA Eddy drove the number 88 car.-ASA:Eddy won his 7 championships in 1974, 1976,... / Midland, MI |
Eddy Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 398 | $3,325 | running | |
| 4 | 3 | 48 | Bob Sensiba / Middleville, MI |
Baker Engineering / Chevrolet | 397 | $2,535 | running | |
| 5 | 40 | 42 | Jerry Makara / Pickney, MI |
Thrush Products / Chevrolet | 395 | $2,145 | running | |
| 6 | 34 | 5 |  Bruce Gould / Milford, OH Rick Knotts / Kalamazoo, MI |
Mall Builders / Chevrolet | 393 | $1,800 | running | |
| 7 | 7 | 6 | Don Seaborn / Dayton, OH |
Thoma Garage / Chevrolet | 388 | $1,550 | running | |
| 8 | 33 | 99 |  Ray Young / Dolton, IL |
S & S Auto Supply / Chevrolet | 381 | $1,400 | running | |
| 9 | 15 | 7 | Don Gregory / Columbus, OH |
Jeg’s Engines / Chevrolet | 378 | $1,280 | running | |
| 10 | 38 | 46 | Ellis Herbert / Rushville, IN |
Herbert Service Center / Chevrolet | 378 | $1,150 | running | |
| 11 | 9 | 2 |  Mark Martin / Batesville, AR |
Gardner Trucking / Chevrolet | 374 | $1,060 | engine | |
| 12 | 2 | 17 | Randy Sweet / Edwardsburg, MI |
Mike’s Engines / Chevrolet | 366 | $875 | running | |
| 13 | 24 | 0 | Eddie Phelps / Indianapolis, IN |
M & M Automotive / Chevrolet | 359 | $775 | running | |
| 14 | 16 | 2 | Carl Smith / West Jefferson, OH |
Competition Parts / Chevrolet | 298 | $650 | running | |
| 15 | 31 | 67 | Ron Hayes / Brownsburg, IN |
Kirby Vacuum / Chevrolet | 339 | $675 | running | |
| 16 | 21 | 25 | Ted Johnson / Columbus, OH |
Shoaf Plumbing / AMC | 305 | $625 | radiator | |
| 17 | 39 | 27 | Mike Brown / LaGrange, IN |
Nelson Chevrolet / Chevrolet | 300 | $575 | running | |
| 18 | 29 | 0 | Lonnie Breedlove / Indianapolis, IN |
M & M Automotive / Chevrolet | 286 | $525 | overheating | |
| 19 | 36 | 76 | L.J. Lines / Greensboro, IN |
Miller Tire Co. / Chevrolet | 220 | $475 | transmission | |
| 20 | 10 | 8 | Jim Cushman / Worthington, OH |
Direct Connection / Plymouth | 211 | $450 | rear end | |
| 21 | 11 | 68 | Terry Senneker / Grand Rapids, MI |
Alger Cyclery / Chevrolet | 191 | $425 | engine | |
| 22 | 28 | 44 | Ray Dillon / North Liberty, IN |
Dillon Trailers / Chevrolet | 181 | $400 | ignition | |
| 23 | 35 | 2 | Ed Baer / Middlebury, IN |
Jackson Tire Co. / Chevrolet | 175 | $390 | ignition | |
| 24 | 30 | 43 | Gene Christie / Gaston, IN |
City of Fairmont / Oldsmobile | 153 | $380 | head gasket | |
| 25 | 18 | 94 | Robbie Dean / Grove City, OH |
Able Auto Body / Chevrolet | 152 | $370 | running | |
| 26 | 19 | 7 |  Dave Goldsberry / Bolivar, MO |
T & K Distributing / Chevrolet | 145 | $360 | accident | |
| 27 | 25 | 12 | Dave Sorg / Fort Wayne, IN |
Neal’s Truck Parts / Chevrolet | 125 | $350 | rear end | |
| 28 | 22 | 3 | John Anderson / Warren, MI |
Gray’s Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 72 | $350 | wheel bearing | |
| 29 | 8 | 21 | Rick Knotts / Kalamazoo, MI |
Hop-Cap / Chevrolet | 57 | $350 | pushrod | |
| 30 | 37 | 5 | Lennie Waldo / Columbus, OH |
Vaughn Ford / Ford | 47 | $350 | oil pressure | |
| 31 | 27 | 04 | Gene Harsch / Sharonville, OH |
Independent Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 44 | $350 | overheating | |
| 32 | 20 | 52 | Butch Miller Butch Miller (racing driver) Butch Miller is a racecar driver. He drives the #07 Toyota Tundra part time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on a limited basis, and is also a crew chief for SS-Green Light Racing. He is a multiple champion in the now-defunct American Speed Association stock car series... / Kalamazoo, MI |
Port City Racing / Chevrolet | 42 | $350 | overheating | |
| 33 | 13 | 1 | Jerry Mitchell / Columbus, OH |
Fort Loramie Racing / Chevrolet | 39 | $350 | overheating | |
| 34 | 5 | 10 | Vern Schrock / Middlebury, IN |
Wee Shape Frames / Chevrolet | 18 | $350 | engine | |
| 35 | 17 | 96 | Harold Scott / New Castle, IN |
CarQuest / Chevrolet | 9 | $350 | accident | |
| 36 | 14 | 33 | Art Sommers / Mt. Clemens, MI |
Yee’s Collision / Pontiac | 9 | $350 | accident | |
| 37 | 23 | 35 |  Jimmy Pierson / Janesville, WI |
Dick’s Auto Supply / Chevrolet | 9 | $300 | accident | |
| 38 | 26 | 02 | Jim Brandenburg / Springfield, OH |
Brandenburg Chevrolet / Chevrolet | 9 | $300 | accident | |
| 39 | 32 | 1 | Wayne Arnold / Indianapolis, IN |
Milam Used Cars / Chevrolet | 9 | $250 | accident | |
| 40 | 40 | 17 | Denny Breedlove / Indianapolis, IN |
J & D Masonry / Chevrolet | 9 | $250 | accident | |
Race statistics
- Average Speed: 84.025 mi/h
- Margin of Victory: 1/2 lap
- Time of Race: Two hours, 22 minutes and 48.85 seconds
- Lead Changes: 11 among 7 drivers
- Lap Leaders: Bob Senneker 1-39; Jerry Makara 40-58; Bob Sensiba 59-105; Dave Roahrig 106-147; Don Gregory 148; Roahrig 149-218; Mike Eddy 219-258; Roahrig 259-308; Mark Martin 309-320; Roahrig 321-392; B. Senneker 393-400
- Cautions: 6 for 50 laps
- Entries: 42 Qualifiers: 42