1982 – Leslie Overwhelms Foes in Santa Fe’s Clay 200

 

Brian Leslie is joined in victory lane by Miss Old Style after winning the National Clay Track championship 200 at Santa Fe Speedway. – Dorothy & Vince Mayer Photo

Willow Springs, Ill. (September 26, 1982) – Brian Leslie led from start to finish to win Santa Fe Speedway’s 200-lap National Clay Track Championship for late models on Sunday afternoon.

Tony Izzo and Denny Falkos, the only drivers in addition to Leslie to complete the contest’s full 200 circuits, placed second and third, respectively, Mike Melius came in fourth, one lap down, with Jim Partipilo, fifth, two circuits down.

Leslie, who placed second in last year’s running of the annual event, won the pole position by recording the day’s fastest qualifying lap, an 18.19-second tour of the speedway’s longer dirt oval.

Leslie put his number one starting assignment to good use, vaulting into the lead over Ken Pohlman at the drop of the green.

Gary Webb was running third early, but his mount suffered a flat tire on lap 29, accounting for the first caution flag of the afternoon and allowing Jim O’Conner to inherit the third spot. Webb later suffered another yellow-producing flat tire and eventually finished 13th.

A former winner of the event, O’Conner, was sidelined by a broken axle on the 50th revolution, handing third place over to John Provenzano.

Provenzano climbed to second place when Pohlman’s car sustained a flat tire, bringing the caution flag out again on lap 94.

At the mandatory pit stop halfway through the battle, Leslie was followed by Provenzano, Izzo, Melius, and Falkos. The next five were Tom Rients, Ted Dolhun, Al Johnson, Jim Partipilo, and Ed Sanger, all on the lead lap.

Izzo replaced Provenzano in second place nine laps after action resumed and Provenzano’s day ended at the 153-lap mark when his engine expired, which prompted another caution flag.

Provenzano’s exit handed third to Falkos, who was trailed by Melius, Dolhun, and Rients.

Moments after the green had returned, Dolhun looped his racer in turn four, triggering another yellow flag.

Rients dropped out of contention a dozen circuits from the checkered, thanks to a broken tie rod, leaving only Izzo and Falkos on the same lap as front-running Leslie.

The order of the top three remained unchanged in the final laps as Leslie held off the former track champion, Izzo, and Falkos to ice the victory.


Results –

1. Brian Leslie, Gurnee
2. Tony Izzo, Bridgeview
3. Denny Falkos, Aurora
4. Mike Melius, Adell, Wis.
5. Jim Partipilo, Berkley
6. Fred Lofgren, Bensenville
7. Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
8. Dick Taylor, Springfield
9. Darrell Marmor, Northlake
10.Larry Jackson, Lyons
11.Dennis Marcelle, Darien
12.Ed Carlson, Lemont
13.Gary Webb, Davenport, Iowa
14.Tom Rients, Streator
15.Jim Boehles, Hales Corner, Wis.
16.Ted Dolhun, Brookfield, Wis.
17.Dennis Erb, Carpentersville
18.Al Johnson, Justice
19.John Provenzano, Wheaton
20.Arnie Gardner, Batavia