The 1981 Winchester 400 motor race, the twelfth annual (run yearly since 1970), was held under American Speed Association sanction on October 5, 1981, at the Winchester Speedway, in Indiana (USA).
After years of futility in the biggest even on the ASA yearly calendar, veteran Mike Eddy ended his victory drought in the 1981 Winchester 400. 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.
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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 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.
| Results of the 12th Annual Winchester 400 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Start | Car # | Driver/Hometown | Sponsor/Make | Laps | Winnings (in US$) |
Status | |
| 1 | 2 | 88 | Mike Eddy / 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 / 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 / Milwaukee, WI | RanderCar/Prototype / Chevrolet | 376 | $1,400 | running | |
| 12 | 4 | 52 | Butch Miller / 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 | |
| Preceded by 1980 Winchester 400 |
1981 Winchester 400 Winner: Mike Eddy |
Succeeded by 1982 Winchester 400 |