Bob
Senneker hoists his trophy after winning the ASA-sanctioned Redbud 400 at
Anderson Speedway. He’s joined by trophy girls Eva Taylor (left) and Jodie
O’Brien (second from right), along with Bobby Batson of General Cigar and
Tobacco Company. – Don Thies Photo
Anderson, Ind. (August 6, 1983) – The flight of the “Bluebird” was unerring as Bob Senneker won the Redbud 400 at Anderson Speedway Saturday night by .6 of one second over Rusty Wallace before a track record crowd of 11,232.
In the patent Senneker style, the Michigan ace measured the front-runner for the first half of the race then applied pressure late, benefitting from what was perhaps a eye-blink break of concentration from Wallace on lap 366 when Dennis Lampman spun as the Missourian led Senneker.
As Lampman skidded into the infield and clear of the track, Wallace reasoned that a caution was imminent, saying, “It seemed like we got cautions for that kind of thing all night and I did slow a little when I saw it happen…apparently enough for Senneker to go by.”
Senneker admitted afterwards he was not of mind to pass either, but urgings of his crew chief Howard Thomas over his radio made the difference. “Howdy came over the radio and all I heard was ‘get him now, get him now,’ and I did. He was right,” Senneker said.
At the finish, the only other car on the lead lap in a night of grinding attrition was Dick Trickle, who consolidated third place, some four seconds behind the pair.
The tight, but blindingly fast quarter-mile, high-banked Anderson layout puts emphasis on handling and Alan Kulwicki apparently had that equation solved as he blasted from his pole position into a early lead. His bid, however, would be abated when his engine seized on lap 18. Second-fastest qualifier Darrell Waltrip was riding inches from his Kulwicki’s back bumper and as Kulwicki spun in his own oil, Waltrip had absolutely no place to go.
Bobby Dotter would inherit the lead at this point but was immediately challenged by Jim Sauter, who took his Firebird into the lead on lap 69. Sauter would keep a sizzling pace until nearing the halfway point of the 400-lap contest when Senneker decided he’s like to dictate the pace and took over on lap 195.
With younger brother Terry getting into the first turn wall on lap 242, bringing out the caution, frontrunner Bob Senneker led a massive assault on the pit area, with virtually the top-10 runners making a necessary stop. Butch Miller led the parade for two laps as the track was cleansed of oil but when green flag racing resumed, it was Wallace ahead of the pit stop shuffle and in command of the race.
Just 10 laps later, Tom Jones had a good run spoiled when his engine expired and the resulting slickness collected Don Gregory, who ricocheted off the wall and momentarily trapped Senneker and Dotter, both very much in the hunt.
As Senneker recovered, Dotter sustained radiator damage that would result in a overheating condition some 50 laps later, putting the 23-year-old Chicagoan out of the contest.
A late-race wrinkle feature Butch Miller, who spun on lap 312 while racing door-to-door with Dick Trickle for third place. On the resulting caution, both drivers made pit stops but Miller would tangle with Muttly Kurkowski on lap 323 and spun, losing his lead-lap status. Despite that and overheating problems early in the race, Miller persisted to finish fourth, one lap down.
Despite finishing second, Wallace took over the lead in the what has been a see-saw battle for the ASA crown.
Results –
1. Bob Senneker
2. Rusty Wallace
3. Dick Trickle
4. Butch Miler
5. Bob Strait
6. Mark Malcuit
7. Jim Sauter
8. Dennis Vogel
9. Dennis Lampman
10.Kent Stauffer
11.Bobby Dotter
12.Muttly Kurkowski
13.Tom Jones
14.Terry Senneker
15.Don Gregory
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