1979 Winchester 400

The tenth annual Dri-Power 400 was held under American Speed Association sanction on October 7, 1979, at the Winchester Speedway.

For the first time since 1974, the “Dri-Power 400” had a new winner, as Columbus, Ohio driver Don Gregory collected the biggest victory of his career over a star-studded field. Driving the Jeg’s Hi Performance Oldsmobile, Gregory inherited the lead on lap 320 when five-time defending race winner Bob Senneker was forced to pit after hitting the outside wall.

Driving the Obie-Baker Chevrolet, Randy Sweet turned in a track record lap of 16.142 seconds (111.510 MPH) to be the fastest qualifier of the 51 cars that attempted to make the 36-car field. At the start, Sweet jumped ahead of the field and into a comfortable lead. Despite shortening the field from 40 to 36 cars, the race still suffered from an early, multi-car incident when Mickey Flora lost an engine on lap 32, triggering a pileup that collected the cars of Doug Klein, John Martin, Dick Trickle, Ed Cooper, and Moose Myers.

Sweet led the initial 80 laps with Senneker then taking control of the field until pitting on lap 90. Dave Roahrig then moved to the point with Ray Young, Mark Martin, Gregory, L.J. Lines, Mike Eddy, and Senneker close behind. Roahrig remained out front until stopping in the pits on lap 152, giving the lead to the veteran Lines for the first time in his “400” career. Lines would remain in front until he too headed down pit road on lap 192 and handed the lead to Eddy. Senneker would reassume the lead on lap 247 and hold it for the next 56 laps. Passing the 300-lap mark, things heated up at the front of the field as M. Martin, Senneker, and Eddy all took turns leading over an eight-lap period before Senneker settled back in front on lap 311.

Poised for a sixth consecutive win, Senneker saw his hopes slip away as he slid into the outside wall while leading on lap 320 allowing Gregory to charge by for the lead. The final 100 laps proved to be the undoing for many competitors. Along with Senneker’s trip into the wall, M. Martin suffered engine problems and Eddy was forced to make a green-flag stop for fuel. Leading the final 81 laps, Gregory held on to collect only the second win of his long ASA career and a “400” record $10,025 winner’s check. Ray Young came home second with Eddy, Trickle, and Butch Miller rounding out the top-five.

External links

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