The 1978 Winchester 400 motor race, the ninth annual (run yearly since 1970), was held as the "Dri-Power 400" under American Speed Association sanction on October 1, 1978, at the Winchester Speedway, in Indiana (USA).
The 1978 Winchester 400 marked a milestone in the short history of the event, as Michigan short-track legends Mike Eddy and Bob Senneker engaged in a race-long battle over the 400-lap distance on the "World's Fastest Half Mile". Despite Eddy's best efforts, Senneker (Dorr, Michigan) once again came out on top as he won the fall-classic for the fifth consecutive year.
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Senneker served notice early that he was a threat to win again as he set fast time in qualifying for the third straight year. At the green, fellow front-row starter Bob Sensiba shot to the lead, but suffered early tire problems giving the lead to Mike Eddy on lap nine. Although followed closely by Senneker and Sensiba most of the time, the Midland, Michigan veteran dominated the first half event, as he would lead all the way until lap 234 when he pitted for tires. Sensiba won the race off pit road and would pace the field until Eddy again took over the top spot on lap 257.
Despite starting from the pole, Senneker grabbed the lead for the first time on lap 305 when Eddy took advantage of a caution to make his final pit stop. Once the green flag reappeared, the battle began between race leaders Senneker and Eddy. The two leaders dueled through lapped traffic as Eddy attempted to retake the lead in quest of his first Dri-Power 400 win. Sensiba who, was desperately attempting to regain a lost lap, joined the lead duo as they sliced through traffic. Sensiba was able to work his way past Senneker on two occasions, but the caution never came out and Senneker was able to move back around and keep his rival down a lap. At the finish, Senneker was able to hold off Eddy for his fifth-straight win and collect $8,035 for his efforts. Eddy settled for second on the lead lap followed by Sensiba, rookie Ed Cooper, and Terry Bivins.
| Results of the 9th Annual DRI-POWER Winchester 400 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Start | Car # | Driver/Hometown | Sponsor/Make | Laps | Winnings (in US$) |
Status | |
| 1 | 1 | 84 | Bob Senneker / Dorr, MI | Baker Engineering / Chevrolet | 400 | $8,035 | running | |
| 2 | 3 | 88 | Mike Eddy / Midland, MI | Moenning Brothers / Chevrolet | 400 | $5,950 | running | |
| 3 | 2 | 48 | Bob Sensiba / Middleville, MI | Collier Chevrolet / Chevrolet | 399 | $3,365 | running | |
| 4 | 13 | 4 | Ed Cooper / Clark Lake, MI | National Serv-All / Chevrolet | 392 | $2,400 | running | |
| 5 | 30 | 53 | Terry Bivins / Wellsville, KS | Miller Construction / Chevrolet | 387 | $2,000 | running | |
| 6 | 22 | 2 | Carl Smith / West Jefferson, OH Marvin Smith / Columbus, OH |
Competition Parts / Chevrolet | 383 | $1,800 | running | |
| 7 | 38 | 41 | Tom Harrington / Loveland, OH | BFI Garbage / Chevrolet | 383 | $1,600 | running | |
| 8 | 29 | 38 | Jeep Pflum / Cincinnati, OH | Don’s Crankshaft / Chevrolet | 380 | $1,400 | running | |
| 9 | 33 | 75 | Warren Howard / Fort Wayne, IN | Howard Racing / Chevrolet | 375 | $1,200 | running | |
| 10 | 28 | 46 | Ellis Herbert / Rushville, IN | Tony’s Body Shop / Chevrolet | 373 | $1,100 | running | |
| 11 | 8 | 0 | Lonnie Breedlove / Indianapolis, IN | M & M Automotive / Chevrolet | 373 | $1,000 | engine | |
| 12 | 19 | Denny Miles / Muncie, IN | H & R Auto Sales / Chevrolet | 373 | $900 | running | ||
| 13 | 20 | 94 | Robbie Dean / Grove City, OH | Able Auto Body / Chevrolet | 364 | $800 | running | |
| 14 | 12 | 76 | L.J. Lines / Greensboro, IN | Miller Tire Co. / Chevrolet | 359 | $725 | running | |
| 15 | 24 | 30 | Mickey Flora / Anderson, IN | Flora Racing / Dodge | 355 | $675 | running | |
| 16 | 31 | 10 | Vern Schrock / Goshen, IN | Coachman RV / Chevrolet | 336 | $625 | radiator | |
| 17 | 37 | 11 | Buddy Cole / Indianapolis, IN | Dill’s Auto Parts / Chevrolet | 335 | $575 | running | |
| 18 | 27 | 12 | Wayne Arnold / Indianapolis, IN | Milam Used Cars / Chevrolet | 328 | $525 | running | |
| 19 | 40 | 19 | Roger Gillespie / Urbana, OH | Belmont Catering / Ford | 320 | $475 | running | |
| 20 | 26 | 8 | Jim Cushman / Mt. Vernon, OH | Murphy Oil / Dodge | 315 | $450 | running | |
| 21 | 7 | 24 | Dave Roahrig / Plymouth, IN | Hop-Cap / Chevrolet | 311 | $430 | lost wheel | |
| 22 | 36 | 24 | Don Johnson / Hilliard, OH | Johnson Auto Service / Chevrolet | 266 | $400 | wheel bearing | |
| 23 | 39 | 15 | Larry Gorman / Indianapolis, IN | Dale’s Family Center / Dodge | 261 | $390 | running | |
| 24 | 30 | 43 | Ted Johnson / Columbus, OH | Cantley Auto Salvage / AMC | 246 | $380 | rear end | |
| 25 | 11 | 1 | Bob Coffey / Indianapolis, IN | M & M Automotive / Chevrolet | 226 | $370 | accident | |
| 26 | 34 | 5 | Billy Marvel / Indianapolis, IN | Bill’s Freight / Chevrolet | 210 | $360 | accident | |
| 27 | 9 | 52 | Butch Miller / Kalamazoo, MI | Port City Racing / Chevrolet | 172 | $350 | accident | |
| 28 | 32 | 69 | Dave Lewis / Indianapolis, IN | Lewis Towing / Chevrolet | 151 | $350 | accident | |
| 29 | 16 | 43 | Gene Christie / Gaston, IN | Nave Body Shop / Oldsmobile | 149 | $350 | engine | |
| 30 | 10 | 32 | Denny Nyari / South Bend, IN | Hop-Cap / Chevrolet | 142 | $350 | accident | |
| 31 | 18 | 27 | Don Wilbur / West Carrollton, OH | Jessie Hair Fashions / Chevrolet | 136 | $350 | accident | |
| 32 | 6 | 2 | Mark Martin / Batesville, AR | Howe/Baker Engineering / Chevrolet | 118 | $350 | accident | |
| 33 | 35 | 82 | Dave Brandenburg / Springfield, OH | Joe’s Radiator / Chevrolet | 85 | $350 | accident | |
| 34 | 14 | 28 | Everett DeWitt / Janesville, WI | Quality Auto Body / Chevrolet | 18 | $350 | accident | |
| 35 | 5 | 7 | Don Gregory / Columbus, OH | Jeg’s Hi Performance / Chevrolet | 53 | $350 | rear end | |
| 36 | 25 | 17 | Denny Breedlove / Indianapolis, IN | M & M Automotive / Chevrolet | 51 | $350 | accident | |
| 37 | 17 | 68 | Terry Senneker / Grand Rapids, MI | Dantuma / Chevrolet | 47 | $300 | broken piston | |
| 38 | 4 | 2 | Ed Baer / Middlebury, IN | Jackson Tire Co. / Chevrolet | 40 | $300 | accident | |
| 39 | 21 | 96 | Harold Scott / New Castle, IN | CarQuest / Chevrolet | 25 | $250 | accident | |
| 40 | 15 | 80 | James Cox / Louisville, KY | Marshall / Pontiac | 9 | $250 | accident | |
| Preceded by 1977 Winchester 400 |
1978 Winchester 400 Winner: Bob Senneker |
Succeeded by 1979 Winchester 400 |