1980 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 5, 1980, 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 wildest 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...
in history, the 1980 race had a familiar name in victory, but a surprise winner as Terry Senneker, younger brother of five-time winner Bob Senneker, captured the 1980 running of the fall classic. Battling for the lead, with just eight laps to go, ASA standouts Mark Martin and 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,...
tangled while racing side-by-side and crashed out of the event. That allowed the third-place machine of Terry Senneker to take the victory.
Martin’s Dillon Chevrolet flew around the "World's Fastest Half Mile" in 15.741 seconds (114.351 MPH) and was the fastest qualifier among the 44 competitors. The "400" began in very clean fashion as Martin led the initial 45 laps before giving way to Bob Sensiba. The first caution did not appear until lap 50, when Dick Dunlevy Jr. exploded an engine. Sensiba remained in the lead until he pitted on lap 134, giving the lead to Martin for the second time. Martin then led until he headed for pit road on lap 175, turning over control of the field to Terry Senneker for the first time.
Defending race winner Don Gregory passed T. Senneker for the lead on lap 197 and remained in front until he too headed pit-side for a stop on lap 239. Those stops cycled Martin back to the race lead, but tire problems caused him to slow and give the point back to T. Senneker on lap 276. The stage for the final drama began to be set when Eddy passed T. Senneker to make his first appearance at the top of the leader board on lap 289. Lurking just behind the race lead, five-time winner Bob Senneker saw his chances end as a blown tire sent him into the fourth-turn wall and out of the race on lap 300. Under that caution, Eddy pitted for tires, giving the lead back to Gregory. Charging back through the field on fresh tires, Eddy retook the lead on lap 325 as Gregory’s machine began to suffer from overheating problems.
On lap 341, Terry Senneker looped his Chevrolet off turn four and narrowly missed hitting the inside retaining wall on the main straight. This caution period allowed Martin to make up a lost lap and have a shot at race leader Eddy. The lead duo began their battle within the final 25 laps of the event. Picking his spots carefully, Martin repeatedly dove under Eddy’s mount, but was unable to complete the maneuver for the lead. On the 391st lap, Martin again ducked under Eddy heading into the third turn. The duo raced side-by-side through the corner and down the front stretch into the first and second turns. Coming off turn two onto the back straight, Martin’s car broke loose and shot up the track into the side of Eddy. The contact sent Eddy bouncing hard off the back stretch wall and back into Martin, severely damaging and knocking both cars out of the race.
T. Senneker, who was a lap behind the leaders at the time of their crash, motored to the lead under the caution as Eddy and Martin were being towed back to the pits. Back under green and suddenly seven laps ahead of his nearest running competitor, Senneker cruised around the final few laps to collect the biggest win of his career and a $9,200 payday. Ray Young picked up his second-consecutive runner-up finish. Despite not finishing, Eddy and Martin completed enough laps to be scored third and fourth respectively, with Carl Smith rounding out the top five.
Table of results
| Results of the 11th Annual DRI-POWER Winchester 400 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Start | Car # | Driver/Hometown | Sponsor/Make | Laps | Winnings (in US$ 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 | 7 | 37 |  Terry Senneker / Wayland, MI |
Anastor Enterprises / Chevrolet | 400 | $9,200 | running | |
| 2 | 35 | 99 |  Ray Young / Dolton, IL |
Chevy Shop / Chevrolet | 393 | $6,650 | running | |
| 3 | 4 | 88 | 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 |
Moenning Brothers / Chevrolet | 392 | $3,900 | accident | |
| 4 | 1 | 2 |  Mark Martin / Batesville, AR |
Dillon/Baker/AMSoil / Chevrolet | 392 | $3,450 | accident | |
| 5 | 28 | 2 |  Carl Smith / West Jefferson, OH |
Tim’s Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 392 | $2,000 | running | |
| 6 | 24 | 0 |  Lonnie Breedlove / Indianapolis, IN |
M & M Automotive / Chevrolet | 384 | $1,800 | running | |
| 7 | 32 | 17 | John Jutila / Grand Rapids, MI |
Jerry’s Body & Frame / Chevrolet | 373 | $1,600 | running | |
| 8 | 22 | 29 | Dave Sorg / Fort Wayne, IN |
Neal’s Truck Parts / Chevrolet | 371 | $1,400 | running | |
| 9 | 27 | 6 | Gary Williams / Orient, OH |
Seely’s Body Shop / Chevrolet | 359 | $1,200 | running | |
| 10 | 14 | 7 | Don Gregory / Columbus, OH |
A-1 Auto Service/Jeg’s / Chevrolet | 349 | $1,900 | head gasket | |
| 11 | 5 | 3 | Bob Sensiba / Middleville, MI |
M & M Automotive / Chevrolet | 348 | $1,800 | clutch | |
| 12 | 33 | 11 | Ryl Magoon / Grand Rapids, MI |
J & H Oil, Co. / Chevrolet | 338 | $900 | running | |
| 13 | 18 | 27 | Don Wilbur / West Carrollton, OH |
Jessie’s Hair Fashions / Chevrolet | 308 | $800 | ignition | |
| 14 | 3 | 84 | Bob Senneker / Dorr, MI |
Baker Engines / Chevrolet | 300 | $1,550 | accident | |
| 15 | 23 | 10 | Buddy Cole / Indianapolis, IN |
Dill’s Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 295 | $700 | running | |
| 16 | 36 | 57 | Jack Shanklin / Camby, IN |
Emberson / Chevrolet | 272 | $650 | running | |
| 17 | 19 | 99 |  Dick TrickleDick Trickle Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged... / Wisconsin Rapids, WI |
Superamerica / Chevrolet | 237 | $1,400 | dry sump | |
| 18 | 13 | 39 |  John MartinJohn Martin (driver) John Martin , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1970-1977 and 1979-1980 seasons, with 52 career starts, including the 1972-1976 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 17 times, with his best finish in 5th position at Ontario Motor... / Irvine, CA |
Martin Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 230 | $550 | running | |
| 19 | 25 | 99 | Bob Stansell / Kettering, OH |
Rheinhardt Painting / Chevrolet | 215 | $500 | running | |
| 20 | 17 | 10 | Doug Klein / Fairview Heights, IL |
Klein TV & Appliance / Chevrolet | 170 | $450 | accident | |
| 21 | 12 | 16 |  Jerry Sisco / Madison, TN |
31-W Insulation / Chevrolet | 168 | $425 | accident | |
| 22 | 21 | 82 | Dave Brandenburg / Springfield, OH |
Foxy Lady / Chevrolet | 168 | $400 | accident | |
| 23 | 20 | 38 | Jeep Pflum / Cincinnati, OH |
Don’s Crankshaft / Chevrolet | 137 | $390 | accident | |
| 24 | 26 | 4 | Tom Harrington / Loveland, OH |
BFI Industries / Chevrolet | 133 | $380 | oil pump | |
| 25 | 29 | 30 | Mickey Flora / Anderson, IN |
D & F Racing Equipment / Chevrolet | 129 | $370 | running | |
| 26 | 34 | 77 | Ken Harrison / Indianapolis, IN |
The Roost #1 Bar / Chevrolet | 127 | $360 | accident | |
| 27 | 9 | 24 |  Dave Jensen / Independence, MO |
Jensen Racing / Chevrolet | 126 | $350 | accident | |
| 28 | 10 | 56 | Chuck Roumell / Brooklyn, MI |
Fox Engines / Chevrolet | 117 | $350 | accident | |
| 29 | 2 | 88 | Bob Strait / Flossmoor, IL |
Bee Line / Chevrolet | 99 | $1,200 | accident | |
| 30 | 31 | 70 | Larry Brooks / Indianapolis, IN |
Brooks / Chevrolet | 96 | $350 | rocker arm | |
| 31 | 15 | 14 | Ron Hayes / Brownsburg, IN |
Love’s Body Shop / Chevrolet | 94 | $325 | accident | |
| 32 | 30 | 85 | Gil Tarbutton / Lake Eliza, IN |
Tarbutton Racing / Chevrolet | 83 | $325 | engine | |
| 33 | 8 | 5 | Randy Sweet / Edwardsburg, MI |
Gaerte Engines / Chevrolet | 63 | $1,125 | accident | |
| 34 | 6 | 76 | L.J. Lines / Indianapolis, IN |
Unipak, Inc. / Chevrolet | 53 | $325 | rocker arm | |
| 35 | 11 | 5 | Dick Dunlevy Jr. / Dayton, OH |
Mall Builders / Pontiac | 48 | $300 | valve | |
| 36 | 16 | 96 | Harold Scott / New Castle, IN |
Dan’s Auto Ranch / Chevrolet | 32 | $1,100 | accident | |
Race statistics
- Average Speed: 65.877 mi/h
- Margin of Victory: 7 laps
- Time of Race: Three hours, 2 minutes and 9.738 seconds
- Lead Changes: 13 among 6 drivers
- Lap Leaders: Mark Martin 1-45; Bob Sensiba 46-133; M. Martin 134-175; T. Senneker 176-196; Don Gregory 197-239; Bob Senneker 240; M. Martin 241; Terry Senneker 242-246; M. Martin 247-276; T. Senneker 277-288; Mike Eddy 289-304; Gregory 305-324; Eddy 325-392; T. Senneker 393-400.
- Cautions: 15 for 122 laps
- Entries: 47 Qualifiers: 46