1981 – Another Win for Senneker in Winchester ASA 200

The "Bluebird" Bob Senneker won the ASA-sanctioned 200-lapper at the high-banks of Winchester Speedway. He's joined in victory lane by the trophy queen and his crew.\

Winchester, Ind. (May 17, 1981) – In what is getting to be a regular Sunday afternoon ritual, Bob Senneker won the 200-lap Circuit of champions portion of the Memorial 300 American Speed Association event at Winchester Speedway, recording his third win in four outings.

Senneker again demonstrated his lay-back-and-wait, patiently smooth style, keeping early leaders Butch Miller and Mark Martin in his sights before taking the lead from Martin with 24 laps remaining.

Martin came in second, trailing the Michigan ace by two seconds at the finish. Alan Kulwicki turned a steady and fast ride into a third-place finish and rookie Pat Schauer was fourth, rounding out the lead lap finishers.

A pre-race hot laps incident prevented Senneker from starting the race, as he incurred suspension damage when he spun and bumped the cars of Dave Jensen and Jack Drolema after another car had split an oil line directly n their path.

Fast work by both the Senneker crew and volunteers had his Camaro ready by starting time.

Butch Miller, who has seemingly become faster with each outing, won the pole position for the 200 with a blistering 15.985 second qualifying lap around the fast, half-mile, high-banked track, and then proceeded to lead thee race’s first 81 circuits.

At that point, a caution caused by a Drolema spin, started a rush to the pits, including Miller, Dick Trickle, Schauer, Mattin, Mike Eddy and Senneker.

Superb pit work had Martin out first, followed by Trickle, Schauer and Senneker.

Martin appeared able to handle all challengers after green flag racing resumed, but Trickle hooked up and made spectacular gains until a left rear tire went flat just past the halfway mark.

With Trickle two laps down as a result of a tire change and Eddy faced with the same fate with a voltage regulator failure, Senneker was left to take up the challenge of Martin.

Running laps just a tenth of a second slower than his qualifying times, Senneker was able to move up on Martin’s bumper with 30 laps remaining., then powered underneath Martin in turn three on lap 176 for good.

Another spectacular drive by John Martin netted him a fifth-place finish after missing time trials and starting 23rd.


Results –


1. Bob Senneker
2. Mark Martin
3. Alan Kulwicki
4. Pat Schauer
5. John Martin
6. Butch Miller
7. Don Gregory
8. Mike Eddy
9. Terry Senneker
10.Bill Venturini
11.Doug Klein
12.Dave Watson
13.Dick Trickle
14.Harold Scott
15.John Knaus
16.Ken Harrison
17.Bob Sensiba
18.Ray Young
19.Jack Drolema
20.Bob Strait
21.L.J. Lines
22.Dave Jensen
23.Ryl Magoon
24.Bruce Vanderlaan