1986 Winchester 400

The seventeenth annual Winchester 400 was held under American Speed Association sanction on October 5, 1986, at the Winchester Speedway.

For the second consecutive year, Mark Martin shined in the biggest event of the ASA season as he captured all the glory in the 1986 “Winchester 400.” Winning from the pole position for the like he did the previous year, Martin took the lead for the final time on lap 381 and lapped the entire field to score his fifth win of the 1986 season and the $11,465 first prize.

Starting alongside Martin on the front row, Mike Eddy jumped into the early lead with Martin close behind. Eddy would lead the first 86 laps of the event before pitting with overheating problems. Martin then took the lead for the first time and would lead until lap 129. Eddy and Butch Miller would swap the lead several times over the next 250 laps before Martin showed his winning hand. Miller was leading on lap 330 when engine problems sent him to the pits and out of the race. Miller’s woes gave the lead back to Eddy, who would lead for a total of 267 of the 400 laps, but a bad tire late in the race cost him two laps and cost him a chance at a third win. As Eddy slowed, Martin flash by for the lead on lap 381 and sailed to an uncontested win. Bobby Dotter came home a career-best second as Eddy settled for third ahead of Bob Senneker, and Kenny Wallace.

External links

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