1970 Winchester 400

The inaugural Dri-Power 400 was held under American Speed Association sanction on October 4, 1970, at the Winchester Speedway. Dave Sorg of Fort Wayne, Indiana dominated the race by leading 301 of the 400 laps around the "World's Fastest Half-Mile" and beating runner-up Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa by five laps. Sorg, the 1968 American Speed Association (ASA) Champion collected $2,403 for the victory.

Ron North of Huntington, Indiana was the quickest of 44 competitors who attempted to make the race. North toured the track in 18.980 seconds (94.837 MPH). The lap bested the previous ASA Track Record of 19.040 seconds set by 1970 ASA Champion Jim Blount.

Starting from outside the front row, Blount darted into the early lead before North took over the point on lap four. North’s turn at the front was to be short-lived as the fast-qualifier suffered an engine problem while leading on lap eight and retired to finish last in the 40-car field. Back in front, Blount would lead through lap 38 until passed by Homer Newland of Detroit, Michigan. Dave Sorg charged past Newland to the lead on lap 44 with Newland’s engine expiring while giving chase five laps later.

Sorg and Blount, a pair of northern Indiana veterans, began to trade the lead over the next several laps. Blount went back in front on lap 90, only to lose it again to Sorg on lap 102. Five laps later, they swapped positions again with Blount pacing the field for four circuits before yielding to Sorg on lap 111. The thrilling battle for the lead went away on lap 123 when Blount tangled with the slower car of Clyde Brown and was sent spinning into the guardrail. Blount’s car bounced off the rail, triggering a five-car pileup that included the cars of Ernie Guy, Gene Prosser, Dave Byler, and Blackie Wangerin.

John Sommerville became the fourth different leader of the event on lap 192 as Sorg made a trip down pit road. Back on the track, Sorg quickly chased down Sommerville and went back in front for the final time on lap 232. Although the race was briefly stopped after a wheel flying over the guardrail sparked a grass fire, nothing could stop Sorg. Leading the final 168 consecutive laps, Sorg sliced through the field with abandon and pulled away to win by five laps. Following Janey in second was Sommerville, Jerry Norris, and Jay Behimer.

External links

* [http://www.winchesterspeedway.com/ Winchester Speedway website]
* [http://www.craracing.net/ Official CRA Website]