1981 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, 1981, 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).
After years of futility in the biggest even on the ASA yearly calendar, veteran 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,...
ended his victory drought in the 1981 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...
. Eddy passed leader Jack Drolema on the 380th circuit and collected $9,940 for his initial win in the fall classic. Eddy’s celebration was marred by the death of ASA Rookie Pat Schauer, who succumbed from injuries suffered in a crash on the front stretch on lap 389 caused by the car hitting a crossover gate.
Eddy, who entered the event as the ASA point leader, appeared to be on a mission to finally conquer the venerable banks of Winchester. After qualifying second to Mark Martin, Eddy flew into the early lead and paced the field for the initial 38 circuits. Eddy would go on to lead a record 334 of the 400 laps, including the final 121. Despite his domination, the race was not without its moments for Eddy as he cut a tire on lap 164, but he was bailed out of a bad situation when Bob Strait hit the wall two laps later. Another close call occurred on the 213th circuit, when Ken Harrison spun and Eddy narrowly squeezed between him and the wall to avoid being eliminated.
Unlike the previous year, Eddy wasn’t forced to deal with a pesky challenge from Martin in the later stages of the event. Martin, who was running in second place at the time, was eliminated just 30 laps into the race when he couldn’t avoid a spinning Donny Klotz. Five-time winner Bob Senneker also was not a factor after distributor problems plagues the Michigan native near the halfway mark. He would finish 30 laps off the pace in 15th position. Defending race winner Terry Senneker limped home in second after suffering damage in the Schauer incident. Dick Trickle
Dick 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...
proved to be a strong challenger for Eddy, but a cut tire forced a green-flag pit stop that left the Wisconsin legend three laps off the pace. Following Eddy and T. Senneker across the line were Bruce VanderLaan and Trickle. Drolema Fell to fifth after a front-end vibration forced him to spin late in the race.
The American Speed Association decided following the tragedy that Schauer's name would be placed on the Rookie of the Year title, which took place until the sanctioning body's demise.
Table of results
| Results of the 12th Annual 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 | 2 | 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 |
Baker Engines/Howe Ent. / Chevrolet | 400 | $9,940 | running | |
| 2 | 9 | 68 | Terry Senneker / Wayland, MI | Jimerson Speedway Chassis / Chevrolet | 399 | $6,390 | running | |
| 3 | 13 | 61 | Bruce VanderLaan / Grand Rapids, MI | Lane Automotive / Chevrolet | 398 | $3,000 | running | |
| 4 | 3 | 99 | Dick Trickle Dick 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 | 397 | $3,240 | running | |
| 5 | 16 | 40 | Jack Drolema / Grand Rapids, MI | Neal’s Truck Parts / Chevrolet | 396 | $2,000 | running | |
| 6 | 12 | 81 | Harold Fair / Detroit, MI | Fair Shell Service / Chevrolet | 390 | $1,800 | running | |
| 7 | 5 | 21 | Pat Schauer / Watertown, WI | RECO Enterprises / Chevrolet | 389 | $1,940 | accident | |
| 8 | 26 | 0 | Chuck Roumell / Brooklyn, MI | Kelly’s Body Shop / Chevrolet | 384 | $1,500 | running | |
| 9 | 27 | 99 | Ray Young / Dolton, IL | Thacker Racing / Chevrolet | 381 | $1,600 | running | |
| 10 | 29 | 3 | Ken Smith / Grand Rapids, MI | B & K Automotive / Chevrolet | 377 | $1,100 | running | |
| 11 | 14 | 97 | Alan Kulwicki Alan Kulwicki Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series... / Milwaukee, WI |
RanderCar/Prototype / Chevrolet | 376 | $1,400 | running | |
| 12 | 4 | 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... / Lawton, MI |
Obie-Baker / Chevrolet | 374 | $1,140 | running | |
| 13 | 8 | 76 | L.J. Lines / Indianapolis, IN | Davis-Holtzsclaw / Chevrolet | 372 | $1,240 | running | |
| 14 | 15 | 51 | Dennis Vogel / Manitowoc, WI | Vogel Bros./Budweiser / Chevrolet | 371 | $750 | engine | |
| 15 | 6 | 84 | Bob Senneker / Dorr, MI | Senneker Ent./Baker Eng. / Chevrolet | 370 | $1,440 | running | |
| 16 | 30 | 77 | Ken Harrison / Indianapolis, IN | Harrison Racing / Chevrolet | 351 | $1,050 | running | |
| 17 | 31 | 2 | Terry Cater / Spiceland, IN | Lenceski / Chevrolet | 314 | $600 | rear end | |
| 18 | 19 | 96 | Harold Scott / New Castle, IN | Don’s Auto Ranch / Chevrolet | 306 | $950 | dry sump | |
| 19 | 21 | 16 | Dave Simko / Clarkston, MI | Mound Steel & Supply / Chevrolet | 297 | $500 | engine | |
| 20 | 35 | 3 | Dave Heid / White Pigeon, MI | Landon Engineering / Chevrolet | 292 | $450 | overheating | |
| 21 | 18 | 7 | Don Gregory / Columbus, OH | A-1 Auto Service / Chevrolet | 227 | $925 | piston | |
| 22 | 7 | 80 | Bob Strait / Flossmoor, IL | Strait Racing / Chevrolet | 164 | $1,040 | suspension | |
| 23 | 10 | 10 | Doug Klein / Fairview Heights, IL | Klein TV & Appliance / Chevrolet | 151 | $830 | overheating | |
| 24 | 20 | 91 | Russ Urlin / London, ONT, CAN | Budget Rent-A-Car / Chevrolet | 115 | $380 | engine | |
| 25 | 17 | 02 | Bobby Tinkham / Charlotte, NC | RHT Racing / Pontiac | 114 | $370 | valve | |
| 26 | 32 | 76 | Mike Bontreger / Middlebury, IN | Jackson Tire Co. / Chevrolet | 105 | $360 | transmission | |
| 27 | 23 | 24 | Dave Jensen / Independence, MO | Walter’s Auto Body / Chevrolet | 86 | $550 | accident | |
| 28 | 11 | 0 | Scott Stovall / Fort Wayne, IN | R.W. Kain, Inc. / Chevrolet | 79 | $350 | accident | |
| 29 | 24 | 57 | Bob Sensiba / Middleville, MI | Don’s Paint & Body / Chevrolet | 63 | $750 | engine | |
| 30 | 25 | 16 | Ed Cooper / Clark Lake, MI | Aeroquip/Warhorse Chassis / Chevrolet | 42 | $350 | rocker arm | |
| 31 | 22 | 38 | Jeep Pflum / Cincinnati, OH | Don’s Crankshaft / Chevrolet | 33 | $325 | engine | |
| 32 | 1 | 2 | Mark Martin / North Liberty, IN | Dillon/AMSoil/Prototype / Chevrolet | 30 | $1,215 | accident | |
| 33 | 33 | 70 | Donny Klotz / Elkhart, IN | Elk Enterprises / Chevrolet | 28 | $325 | accident | |
| 34 | 28 | 43 | Bill Noel / Anderson, IN | Nave / Chevrolet | 14 | $325 | overheating | |
| 35 | 34 | 10 | Buddy Cole / Indianapolis, IN | Dill’s Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 5 | $300 | engine | |
Race statistics
- Average Speed: 76.923 mi/h
- Margin of Victory: 1 lap
- Time of Race: Two hours, 36 minutes and 35.843 seconds
- Lead Changes: 11 among 5 drivers
- Lap Leaders: Mike Eddy 1-38; Dick Trickle 39-40; Eddy 41-115; Jack Drolema 116-137; Eddy 138-168; Drolema 169-174; Terry Senneker 175-180; Bob Senneker 181-201; Eddy 202-270; Drolema 271-279; Eddy 280-400.
- Cautions: 14 for 79 laps
- Entries: 35 Qualifiers: 35