1985 Winchester 400
Encyclopedia
The 1985 Winchester 400 motor race, the sixteenth annual (run yearly since 1970), was held under American Speed Association
sanction on September 29, 1985, at the Winchester Speedway
, in Indiana
(USA).
After coming close on several occasions, 1985 saw Mark Martin finally captured his first "Winchester 400
" crown. After passing the ill-handling car of Dick Trickle
on the 338th lap, Martin flew to the $13,615 victory that was the largest in the history of the event. He was the first driver since Bob Senneker in 1977 to win the "400" from the pole.
Martin led the initial 93 laps from his pole position starting spot, before making his first pit stop of the day when a blown tire by Jim Sauter
brought out the first caution. His dominance on and off the track was so strong, that the Batesville, AR native never ran lower than fifth during the 200-mile grind. His good fortune was not shared by two-time defending pole winner Dick Trickle
and former winners Mike Eddy
and Bob Senneker. Eddy managed to finish on the lead lap despite a spin on lap 177, but lost second spot late in the race to a charging Harold Fair. Trickle ran strong, but blew a tire and hit the backstretch wall, eventually dropping to a tenth-place finish. Senneker, who started the race with a broken rib, blew an oil line on lap 111 and hit the first turn wall to end his day. Alan Kulwicki
was among the front-runners until a broken spindle forced his Ford into the pits for a lengthy stop on lap 267.
Fair led the race for the first time following Martin’s first stop on lap 93, until Trickle shot by to lead laps 105-217. Fair then went back in front for 13 laps before Trickle again assumed the point. Trickle relinquished the lead on lap 286 when John Wilson hit the fourth-turn wall to bring out a caution. As Trickle cruised down pit road, Eddy and Martin remained on the track and move to the top-two spots. The lead duo made their final stops on lap 318 with Martin winning the race off pit road. Back under green, Martin quickly chased down Trickle and made what would be the pass for the win on lap 338. Fair finished a career-best second ahead of Eddy, Bobby Dotter
, and Butch Miller
.
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 September 29, 1985, 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 coming close on several occasions, 1985 saw Mark Martin finally captured his first "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...
" crown. After passing the ill-handling car of 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...
on the 338th lap, Martin flew to the $13,615 victory that was the largest in the history of the event. He was the first driver since Bob Senneker in 1977 to win the "400" from the pole.
Martin led the initial 93 laps from his pole position starting spot, before making his first pit stop of the day when a blown tire by Jim Sauter
Jim Sauter (NASCAR)
Jim Sauter is a former NASCAR race car driver from Necedah, Wisconsin.-Racing career:Sauter started racing in 1964 in a modified at Raceway Park in Savage, Minnesota. He moved up to late models the following year. Sauter moved to Wisconsin, and his career took off after he won the North Star 500...
brought out the first caution. His dominance on and off the track was so strong, that the Batesville, AR native never ran lower than fifth during the 200-mile grind. His good fortune was not shared by two-time defending pole winner 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...
and former winners 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,...
and Bob Senneker. Eddy managed to finish on the lead lap despite a spin on lap 177, but lost second spot late in the race to a charging Harold Fair. Trickle ran strong, but blew a tire and hit the backstretch wall, eventually dropping to a tenth-place finish. Senneker, who started the race with a broken rib, blew an oil line on lap 111 and hit the first turn wall to end his day. 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...
was among the front-runners until a broken spindle forced his Ford into the pits for a lengthy stop on lap 267.
Fair led the race for the first time following Martin’s first stop on lap 93, until Trickle shot by to lead laps 105-217. Fair then went back in front for 13 laps before Trickle again assumed the point. Trickle relinquished the lead on lap 286 when John Wilson hit the fourth-turn wall to bring out a caution. As Trickle cruised down pit road, Eddy and Martin remained on the track and move to the top-two spots. The lead duo made their final stops on lap 318 with Martin winning the race off pit road. Back under green, Martin quickly chased down Trickle and made what would be the pass for the win on lap 338. Fair finished a career-best second ahead of Eddy, Bobby Dotter
Bobby Dotter
Bobby Dotter is a racing car driver from Chicago, Illinois. His father, Bob Dotter, is a three-time champion the Auto Racing Club of America. Dotter has made 209 starts in the NASCAR Busch Series, posting 42 top-tens and four poles. In 2000, Dotter began running in the NASCAR West Series for Gene...
, and 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...
.
Table of results
Results of the 16th 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 | 1 | 2 | Mark Martin / Batesville, AR | Miller American / Ford | 400 | $13,685 | running | |
2 | 9 | 81 | Harold Fair / Livonia, MI | Hanley Ent./Prototype Eng. / Pontiac | 400 | $6,490 | running | |
3 | 8 | 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 |
Howe Ent./Malcuit Engines / Pontiac | 400 | $4,690 | running | |
4 | 7 | 79 | Bobby Dotter Bobby Dotter Bobby Dotter is a racing car driver from Chicago, Illinois. His father, Bob Dotter, is a three-time champion the Auto Racing Club of America. Dotter has made 209 starts in the NASCAR Busch Series, posting 42 top-tens and four poles. In 2000, Dotter began running in the NASCAR West Series for Gene... / Chicago, IL |
Car Parts Unlimited/Mathu / Pontiac | 396 | $3,390 | running | |
5 | 2 | 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 |
MSW/Lane Automotive/Fredrikson / Chevrolet | 396 | $3,585 | running | |
6 | 19 | 90 | Kent Stauffer / Elyria, OH | Flex Auto Products / Pontiac | 395 | $2,600 | running | |
7 | 10 | 35 | Buddy Schrock / Plain City, OH | Performance Technology / Pontiac | 395 | $1,790 | running | |
8 | 17 | 22 | Ken Lund / Madison, WI | Jack’s Original Pizza/LSJ / Pontiac | 392 | $2,200 | running | |
9 | 14 | 0 | Tom Jones / Northbrook, IL | RJ Race Cars/Prototype Eng. / Chevrolet | 389 | $1,995 | running | |
10 | 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 |
Pabst/Prototype Eng. / Pontiac | 387 | $2,585 | running | |
11 | 15 | 41 | Tom Harrington / Loveland, OH | BFI Waste/E.B. Adv./Coors / Chevrolet | 384 | $1,795 | running | |
12 | 20 | 55 | Bill Stephenson / Richmond Hill, ONT, CAN | Lake Refrigeration / Pontiac | 383 | $1,650 | running | |
13 | 26 | 71 | John Wilson / Springfield, OH | Wilson Racing Ent. / Pontiac | 380 | $1,400 | running | |
14 | 30 | 7 | Donnie Gregory / Columbus, OH | A-1 Auto Service / Pontiac | 371 | $1,225 | running | |
15 | 4 | 28 | 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... / Greenfield, WI |
Hardee’s / Ford | 365 | $2,060 | running | |
16 | 13 | 91 | Russ Urlin / London, ONT, CAN | Budget Rent-A-Car of Canada / Ford | 361 | $1,240 | running | |
17 | 16 | 78 | Ed Cooper / Clarks Lake, MI | Habegger Racing / Pontiac | 330 | $1,005 | running | |
18 | 29 | 3 | Dave Heid / White Pigeon, MI | Heid Racing / Chevrolet | 300 | $700 | running | |
19 | 11 | 51 | Dennis Vogel / Manitowoc, WI | Vogel Brothers Racing / Pontiac | 290 | $1,185 | suspension | |
20 | 28 | 4 | Ken Harrison / Indianapolis, IN | Dairy Queen Laps for Kids / Pontiac | 202 | $900 | ignition | |
21 | 27 | 52 | Denny Miles / Muncie, IN | Muncie Metal Spining/Wold Engines / Pontiac | 182 | $825 | engine | |
22 | 12 | 24 | Dave Jensen / Independence, MO | Jensen Sales/GDI Racing / Pontiac | 155 | $1,180 | suspension | |
23 | 5 | 84 | Bob Senneker / Dorr, MI | Elk Custom Vans / Pontiac | 110 | $1,860 | engine | |
24 | 24 | 93 | Ed Evans / West Allis, WI | Baker Enterprises of Wisconsin / Pontiac | 94 | $770 | accident | |
25 | 6 | 5 | Jim Sauter Jim Sauter (NASCAR) Jim Sauter is a former NASCAR race car driver from Necedah, Wisconsin.-Racing career:Sauter started racing in 1964 in a modified at Raceway Park in Savage, Minnesota. He moved up to late models the following year. Sauter moved to Wisconsin, and his career took off after he won the North Star 500... / Necedah, WI |
Dairyland Transport/Midstate/LSJ / Pontiac | 90 | $1,715 | accident | |
26 | 22 | 38 | Jeep Pflum / Cincinnati, OH | J & M Towing/Car Rental / Chevrolet | 70 | $500 | accident | |
27 | 18 | 68 | Terry Senneker / Wayland, MI | Car Brite/Reliable Body Shop / Chevrolet | 63 | $350 | oil leak | |
28 | 18 | 04 | Gene Harsch / Cincinnati, OH | Pepsi-Cola Bottlers / Chevrolet | 59 | $650 | transmission | |
29 | 23 | 14 | Jay Sauter Jay Sauter Jay Sauter is a NASCAR driver. He previously drove the #34 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Frank Cicci Racing in the Busch Series. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of fellow drivers Tim Sauter and Johnny Sauter... / Necedah, WI |
G.W. Pierce Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 40 | $550 | engine | |
30 | 25 | 72 | Craig Spetman / Council Bluffs, IA | Kingman Salvage Co. / Ford | 16 | $750 | engine |
Race statistics
- Average Speed: 76.951 mi/h
- Margin of Victory: 3.62 seconds
- Time of Race: Two hours, 35 minutes and 56.65 seconds
- Lead Changes: 8 among 4 drivers
- Lap Leaders: Mark Martin 1-93; Butch Miller 94; Harold Fair 95-104; Dick Trickle 105-217; Fair 218-231; Trickle 232-286; Martin 287-318; Trickle 319-337; Martin 338-400.
- Cautions: 12 for 68 laps
- Entries: 30 Qualifiers: 30