ASA: Winchester 400 Has Seen Plenty of Winners, Plenty of Legends

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 6, 2001

Nineteen different drivers in three sanctions have won legendary event

PENDLETON, Ind. – It was an event started in 1970, held at a big half-mile, high-banked oval located in East Central Indiana. The event grew and grew every year, attracting more and more drivers and fans to the Winchester Speedway, locate d in Winchester, Ind. The event, the Winchester 400, drew some of the best and most successful short track stock car drivers from all over the country to do battle with the best from the American Speed Association, All Pro and Kendall Late Model Series. An d over the years, the event and the track have seen some of the best drivers in the history of motorsports compete and conquer the high banks.

Bob Senneker tops the list of drivers who have won the Winchester 400, garnering seven victories between 1974 and 1991. Five of his seven wins came in consecutive years, 1974 through 1978. Former All Pro Champion and current ASA Rookie of the Year candidat e Mike Cope won three Winchester 400s, also all in consecutive years (1993-1995) while the event was being sanctioned by the All-Pro Series.

Only four other drivers have won the event multiple-times, including seven-time ASA National Champion Mike Eddy, four-time ASA National Champion Mark Martin, three-time ASA National Champion Butch Miller and the late Dave Sorg, each who have won twice. Den ny Miles, Vern Schrock, Don Gregory, Terry Senneker, Rusty Wallace, Ted Musgrave, Glenn Allen Jr. and Gary St. Amant have each won the event once with ASA, while Tim Steele, Scot Walters, Hank Parker Jr. and Derrick Gilchrist have won the event with the Al l Pro Series. Brian Ross was the lone winner when the Kendal Late Model Series sanctioned the event.

Martin holds the top spot in qualifying, having set fast time in qualifying for the event four times. Larry Moore, Bob Senneker, Dick Trickle and Butch Miller have each been the fast qualifier twice. Among the 19 drivers who have won pole positions is Larr y Foyt, who turned the fastest lap in any ASA stock car at Winchester with a lap in qualifying of 15.656 seconds at 114.972 mph in 2000.

A look at some of the drivers who may not have experienced success in the form of victories shows what a draw the event was from over the years. Open wheel ace Jim Hurtubise, Joe Ruttman, Harry Gant, Bobby Allison and current suspension manufacturer Randy Sweet all competed in the event, as did the likes of Jeff Gordon, Kenny Wallace, Jack Sprague, Bobby Labonte and current ASA car builder, Chas Howe.

Activities at the track for the 2001 version of the Winchester 400 begin on September 14 with the first of three practice sessions and spectator gates opening at 11 a.m. (local). ASA two-lap qualifying goes off at 4. On September 15, spectator gates open a nd the first practice session begins at 11 a.m. The first of the Twin 125-lap qualifying races goes green at 2:30 p.m. Race day, Sept. 16, begins with spectator gates opening at 9 a.m. followed by the on-track autograph session scheduled for 11 a.m. Pre-ra ce ceremonies are set for 12:15 p.m. and the start of the 32nd Annual Winchester 400 is scheduled to go green at 1 p.m. The event will be telecast live on TNN Sports.

Tickets for the event are still available with general admission Friday tickets selling for $5 each and Saturday tickets selling for $15 each. Children 12 years old and younger are admitted free with a paying adult on those two days. Tickets on race day ar e $25 each for reserved seats on the bottom four rows and $30 each for all other reserved seats. The only general admission on race day is for the infield at a cost of $20 per ticket. For additional information, call the ASA ticket line, (765) 778-2105 or toll-free, 1-888-ASA-1020.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.