1974 Winchester 400
The 1974 Winchester 400 motor race, the fifth annual (run yearly since 1970), was held as the "Dri-Power 400" under American Speed Association sanction on September 29, 1974, at the Winchester Speedway, in Indiana (USA).
Making his initial visit to the Winchester Speedway, Bob Senneker of Dorr, Michigan proved to be a quick learner as he scored the win in the fifth-annual Winchester 400. Defending race-winner Vern Schrock was the quickest of the 108 drivers who attempted to ear one of the 40 spots in the starting field. Starting from the pole, Schrock would lead the opening 70 laps before pitting for service and handing the lead to Tom Maier.
The race
Many of the pre-race favorites were eliminated in a multi-car accident on lap 33 that ended the hopes of NASCAR star Bobby Allison and former winners Dave Sorg and Denny Miles.
While the race went on up front, Senneker spent the majority of the race deep in the running order as he lost five-laps pitting under the green for tires. Schrock took the lead for the second time on lap 157, but would give the lead back to Maier on lap 176. Passing halfway, Schrock would go back in front on lap 206 only to begin falling off the pace with mechanical problems. Flying around the track, Senneker made up all his laps and took the lead for the first time on lap 299, cruising home to a two-lap win over Larry Phillips, Maier, Ed VanderLaan, and Schrock. Senneker collected $6,120 for the win.
Table of results
| Results of the 5th Annual DRI-POWER Winchester 400 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Start | Car # | Driver/Hometown | Sponsor/Make | Laps | Winnings (in US$) |
Status | |
| 1 | 4 | 84 | Bob Senneker / Dorr, MI | Chevrolet | 400 | $6,120 | running | |
| 2 | 11 | 75 | Larry Phillips / Springfield, MO | Chevrolet | 398 | $3,000 | running | |
| 3 | 5 | 61 | Tom Maier / Midland, MI | Chevrolet | 397 | $3,160 | running | |
| 4 | 16 | 20 | Ed VanderLaan / Grand Rapids, MI Joe Ruttman / Dearborn, MI |
Chevrolet | 397 | $1,250 | running | |
| 5 | 1 | 10 | Vern Schrock / Middlebury, IN | Chevrolet | 395 | $3,270 | running | |
| 6 | 31 | 1 | Marvin Smith / Columbus, OH | Chevrolet | 392 | $1,000 | running | |
| 7 | 30 | 68 | Bruce Gould / Milford, OH | Chevrolet | 390 | $900 | running | |
| 8 | 39 | 60 | Bobby Jacks / Dayton, OH | Chevrolet | 378 | $800 | running | |
| 9 | 22 | 17 | Randy Sweet / Portage, MI | Chevrolet | 370 | $700 | accident | |
| 10 | 37 | 11 | Bob Coffey / Indianapolis, IN | Chevrolet | 369 | $600 | running | |
| 11 | 20 | 88 | Mike Eddy / Kawkawlin, MI | Chevrolet | 354 | $500 | engine | |
| 12 | 40 | 43 | Gene Christie / Gaston, IN | Chevrolet | 349 | $450 | running | |
| 13 | 36 | 7 | Warren Howard / Fort Wayne, IN | Chevrolet | 346 | $400 | running | |
| 14 | 29 | 61 | Kenny Simpson / Bedford, IN | Chevrolet | 305 | $350 | rear end | |
| 15 | 33 | 51 | Neal Sceva / Urbana, OH | Chevrolet | 297 | $300 | running | |
| 16 | 34 | 23 | Ned Webb / West Chester, OH | Chevrolet | 288 | $250 | broken valve | |
| 17 | 27 | 5 | Shorty Hinshaw / Mooreland, IN | Chevrolet | 256 | $200 | loose header | |
| 18 | 16 | 82 | Lennie Waldo / Grove City, OH | Chevrolet | 232 | $160 | accident | |
| 19 | 10 | 2 | Roland VanArsdale / Indianapolis, IN | Chevrolet | 217 | $150 | handling | |
| 20 | 38 | 98 | Jody Ridley / Chatsworth, GA | Ford | 215 | $140 | clutch | |
| 21 | 3 | 33 | John Anderson / Detroit, MI | Chevrolet | 199 | $110 | fuel pump | |
| 22 | 28 | 42 | Ray Fullen / Anderson, IN | Chevrolet | 186 | $110 | pulley | |
| 23 | 2 | 7 | Don Gregory / Columbus, OH | Chevrolet | 175 | $110 | rotor | |
| 24 | 6 | 03 | Jim Cushman / Worthington, OH | Chevrolet | 168 | $110 | engine | |
| 25 | 23 | 88 | Doug Hanna / Goshen, IN | Chevrolet | 149 | $110 | accident | |
| 26 | 12 | 5 | Rodney Combs / Hamilton, OH | Chevrolet | 144 | $110 | accident | |
| 27 | 2 | 7 | Paul Weisner / Muskegon, MI | Chevrolet | 109 | $110 | front end | |
| 28 | 24 | 84 | Frank Demske / South Bend, IN | Chevrolet | 101 | $110 | spindle | |
| 29 | 25 | 12 | John Vallo / Miamisburg / OH | Ford | 101 | $110 | front end | |
| 30 | 15 | 69 | Don Higgins / New Castle, IN | Chevrolet | 54 | $110 | engine | |
| 31 | 7 | 98 | Larry Moore / Dayton, OH | Chevrolet | 53 | $105 | rear end | |
| 32 | 32 | 75 | Bobby Taylor / Elkhart, IN | Chevrolet | 46 | $105 | transmission | |
| 33 | 14 | 90 | LaMarr Marshall / Louisville, KY | Chevrolet | 39 | $105 | rear end | |
| 34 | 26 | 87 | Dave Dayton / Indianapolis, IN | Chevrolet | 38 | $105 | broken valve | |
| 35 | 13 | 12 | Bobby Allison / Hueytown, AL | Chevrolet | 33 | $105 | accident | |
| 36 | 9 | 88 | Tom Reffner / Rudolph, WI | Ford | 33 | $100 | accident | |
| 37 | 19 | 80 | Dave Sorg / Fort Wayne, IN | Chevrolet | 33 | $100 | accident | |
| 38 | 17 | 52 | Denny Miles / Muncie, IN | Chevrolet | 33 | $100 | accident | |
| 39 | 18 | 53 | Terry Bivins / Shawnee, KS | Chevrolet | 33 | $100 | accident | |
| 40 | 35 | 13 | Jim Hurtubise / Tonawanda, NY | Chevrolet | 18 | $100 | broken header | |
Race statistics
- Average Speed: 78.530 mph (126.382 km/h)
- Margin of Victory: 2 laps
- Time of Race: Two hours, 32 minutes and 48 seconds
- Lead Changes: 6 among 3 drivers
- Lap Leaders: Vern Schrock 1-70; Tom Maier 71-156; Schrock 157-175; Maier 176-205; Schrock 206-298; Bob Senneker 299-400
- Entries: 109 Qualifiers: 96
External links
| Preceded by 1973 Winchester 400 |
1974 Winchester 400 Winner: Bob Senneker |
Succeeded by 1975 Winchester 400 |
Coordinates: 40°10′31″N 85°1′37″W / 40.17528°N 85.02694°W