Mike
Eddy hoists his trophy after winning the Winchester 400 late model stock car
race. Miss Winchester and Jim Scott of Silver Creek make the presentation. –
Don Thies Photo
Winchester, Ind. (October 2, 1983) – Ever the master of the high-banked ovals, Mike Eddy won the Winchester 400-lap American Speed Association event at Winchester Speedway on Sunday afternoon, crossing the finish line four seconds ahead of runner-up Butch Miller.
Although the contest feature 11 different lead changes among six different drivers, Eddy dominated the bulk of the chase, leading 297 circuits.
Still, Eddy needed some late-race heroics to score the victory, after his gamble on a pit stop for fresh rubber and fuel during a caution allowed Miller to take the lead with only 22 laps remaining.
“The car was working so perfectly that we were confident we’d get back by Butch,” Eddy said after the race. “But we wanted the insurance of fresh tires and plenty of gas.”
“Staying out was our only shot,” Miller said in explaining why he elected not to pit during the slowdown. “Mike was running super and our only chance was to put as many cars between us as possible and hope for the best.”
After the green returned for the final time on lap 386, Eddy needed only two laps to guide his Firebird past Miller and the defending ASA champion then went on to claim the winner’s $10,000 share of the $58,000-plus purse.
Behind Eddy and Miller at the finish, but two laps down was Jim Sauter. Fourth went to Terry Senneker, who was seven laps off the winner’s pace and fifth was claimed by Tom Jones, who completed 384 laps after starting 25th.
The demanding high banks of Winchester took their toll on some of the top contenders. Mark Martin dropped out on lap 71 with ignition problems. Multi-time winner Bob Senneker suffered an oil leak early on then was knocked out of contention when he hit the backstretch wall on lap 252. Dick Trickle, who shadowed Eddy and Miller early on, overheated with 100 laps remaining. Rusty Wallace, who won last year’s 400, surrendered three circuits after replacing a flat tire on lap 100. He struggled to complete 363 laps and finished 10th.
Results –
1. Mike Eddy
2. Butch Miller
3. Jim Sauter
4. Terry Senneker
5. Tom Jones
6. Bob Strait
7. Tim Fontana
8. Ken Stauffer
9. Bob Sensiba
10.Rusty Wallace
11.Don Collins
12.Terry Cater
13.Dave Jensen
14.Dennis Lampman
15.Bobby Dotter
16.Alan Kulwicki
17.Ken Harrison
18.Dick Trickle
19.Don Moon
20.Muttly Kurkowski
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