1976 Winchester 400

The seventh annual Dri-Power 400 was held under American Speed Association sanction on October 4, 1976, at the Winchester Speedway.

Bob Senneker of Dorr, Michigan won the “Dri-Power 400” for the third consecutive year, becoming the first driver to do so from the pole position, and for the second time, did so after falling at least a lap behind the leaders early in the event. Senneker completed the comeback by passing Lennie Waldo (driving in relief of Don Gregory) for the lead on the 362nd lap.

At the 300-lap mark, Senneker was in second position, one lap behind Waldo. Ten laps later, Senneker moved by the leader to put himself back on the lead lap. Once in the same lap, the “bluebird” rapidly began chasing down the race leader. With 50 laps to go, he trailed Waldo by 2.15 seconds and on lap 361, Senneker retook the lead for the final time.

Waldo fell off the pace ten laps later with a flat right front tire. That misfortune dropped the number 7 machine seven laps down and out of the top three. At the finish, Senneker was four laps ahead of younger brother Terry who came across the line second followed by Vern Schrock, Gregory/Waldo, and Lonnie Breedlove. Senneker collected $5,170 for his third-straight win in the fall classic.

External links

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