For pics of Lealand's Trophy Room a Click here to view
For The pics of Lealand by Ellen Ellis Click here to view
For The pics of his ride's Click here to view
Lealand concentrating
Lealand with his JW Hunt hat
Lealand receiving a most fast times award at the CRA banquet
Lealand
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Lealand doing a little bar stool racing
Lealand introduced
Lealand relaxing
Lealand relaxing
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Lealand and a new tire
Lealand
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Lealand with a Steve Lafond picture
Lealand thinking
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Lealand ready to get started
Lealand concentrating on winning
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Lealand on the move
Lealand
Lealand in his den
Lealand with an in car camera
Lealand
Lealand in the pits
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Lealand autographing at the Wagsdash. He was the 1999 Grand Marshal
Lealand doing autographs at the Manzy Hall of Fame race
Lealand still signing
Lealand talking
Lealand signing for Ellen
Lealand signing still
Lealand autographing
Lealand helping Bondio at the Chili Bowl
Lealand working
Lealand at the Chili Bowl in the grandstands
Lealand
Lealand in Goodyear wear
Lealand 1990
Lealand
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Lealand with a present from Dave Darland's car
Lealand
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lealand pondering whether to go jump in a sprint car!
Lealand shaking hands at an autograph session
Lealand having fun at Manzy
Lealand
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Lealand boating?
Lealand with a real hot rod
Lealand
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Lealand with dibs on the redhead
Lealand
Lealand
Janet
Janet wandering the Hall of Fame
Janet in a cheer group?
Janet
Janet
Janet
Janet
Janet
Janet
Janet
Janet
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Janet at Belleville
Janet showing off Lealand's spot in the Belleville Hall of Fame
Say what?
Janet with Ed Rausch
Janet and Mrs Wags
Janet with Wags at Calistoga
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet in the winners circle
Lealand and Janet at the river
Lealand and Janet with their ride
Lealand and Janet on a plane
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet posing
Lealand and Janet snuggling
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand & Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand & Janet
Lealand & Janet
Lealand & Janet
Lealand & Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand and Janet
Lealand with Kim Lafond
Lealand with Wags
Lealand and Wags
Lealand giving Wags what for
Lealand with Ellen
Lealand and Verne Sweeney
Lealand and Wags
Lealand with a friend of Darleen Dils
Lealand with Bubby
Lealand and Ellen
Lealand and Mrs Wags
Lealand and Wags
Lealand getting the framed Wagsdash Lealand poster from Steve Lafond
Lealand and Wags passing autographed pictures to each other
Lealand Interviewed by Jay Agajanian
Lealand interviewed by Chris Holt
Lealand and Wags
Lealand and Wags
Lealand with Shane Carson
Lealand with the Hanford trophy girl Evelyn Pratt
Lealand and Wags
Lealand
Lealand and the Gasman
Lealand interviewed by Chris Holt
Lealand with Kim Lafond
Lealand walking the track with WOO boss Ted Johnson
Lealand with Billy Chester
Lealand with Jerry McLung
Lealand
Lealand
Lealand and Shane Carson
Lealand and Darleen Dils
Lealand and Darleens friend
Lealand and same friend
Lealand at the Chili Bowl
Lealand visits with the Strawberry king JW Hunt
Lealand and Wags at Arizona Speedway
Lealand with the winner of the 2019 LMC Logan Seavey
Lealand with the 2019 LMC Billy Shuman Hard Charger winner Jake Swanson
Lealand with John Husky
Lealand with Michael Brennan
Lealand in his den with Wags
Lealand at the Arizona Museum
Lealand with Emment Hahn
Lealand at Kent Shocley's marriage at Perris
Lealand
Lealand
Lealand
Lealand introduced to the crowd
Lealand talking to Shane Golobic
Lealand with Larry Clark
Lealand & Jack Hewitt
Lealand and Jack Hewitt
Lealand at the Chili Bowl
Lealand and Greg Stephans
Lealand and Don Gilcrest
Lealand and Evelyn Pratt
Lealand and Chuck Gurney
Lealand and a fan
Lealand in the pits
Lealand interviewed
Lealand doing some bar stool racing with Billy Boat
Lealand with George Rimmer from England
Lealand with Joe Ellis
Lealand with Jim Naylor
Lealand with Wags in his den
Lealand and Mike Kirby
Lealand and Mike English
Lealand with a fan
Lealand with another fan
Lealand and Wags
Lealand with Ralph Tracy
Lealand and a young fan
Lealand and a lady in the Arizona Museum
Lealand with Mrs Wags
Lealand and Jack Hewitt
Lealand and Wags
Lealand and Roger Toops
Lealand and son Jeff
Lealand and Austin
Lealand meeting the fans
Lealand with Chuck Gurney
Lealand and some fans
Lealand with Ellen and Joe
Janet and Lealand at the the Arizona Museum
Lealand with son Jeff and daughter Michelle
Lealand and Janet and Jeff
Lealand with Cory and Carrie Kruseman
Lealand with Jay Agajanian and Jimmy Oskie
Lealand with Tony Simon and Cory Kruseman
Lealand getting a Wagtimes award from Wags with Jay Agajanian
Lealand visiting with The Wags in 1991
Lealand at the Ellis Hacienda
Lealand with Keith Brian and Wags
Lealand with Tony Simon and Dean Thompson
Lealand and Janet with Bubby
Lealand and Janet with the Wags
Lealand and Janet with Wags
Lealand and The Wags
Lealand with Jimmy Sills and Dave Argabright
Lealand and Janet with Mickey Meyer
Lealand with Mickey Meyer and Billy Shuman
Lealand and Janet with Jimmy Oskie at the AZ hall of Fame
Lealand with Gary DeWitt and a go cart?
Lealand with Ellen Ellis and Mike English
Lealand autographing Ellen's sign with Joe
Lealand at the Ellis Hacienda with an Aussie
Lealand and Janet with Jeff
Lealand with Keith Hall in front of the Arizona Museum
Lealand with Billy Shuman and Ron $human
Lealand and Frank McDaniel
Lealand with Bruce Bromme Sr and Wags
Lealand and janet with Mickey Dale
Lealand and Janet with Jimmy Oskie
Lealand and Janet with Bethany and Wags
Lealand with his son Jeff and a lady
Lealand with a youngster
Lealand with Joe and The Wags
Lealand and the Luna's
Lealand and family
Lealand with his family receiving a plaque from promoter Keith Hall
Lealand and family
Lealand being interviewed at Belleville
Lealand at The Belleville podium
Janet and Lealand with the grandkids
Lealand and Janet at a party
The McSpadden family with The Wags at Arizona Speedway McSpadden Classic # 3
Lealand with Danny Lasoski and a few others
Lealand and their big family at Manzy
Lealand introduced
Lealand autographing
Lealand visiting with the Wags at the Chili Bowl
Lealand talking with my son Kevin Wagner, Richard Griffin and the Balealandmcspaddenkersfield promotor
Lealand with his daughter and Keith Hall
Lealand, Janet, Michelle and Gene Tussing tailgating at Susquehanna in PA
Lealand with Sylvia Watkins at Susquehanna tailgate
Lealand and family at Susquehanna in 1992
Lealand and Janet with The Wags
Lealand with The Wags and Joe Ellis
Lealand and Janet with Mrs Wags plus Stephan and Judy Pettigrew
Lealand about to go racing ..... on a barstool
Lealand leading as his competitor looks in trouble
Family Portrait
Lealand bid on this side piece with the JW Hunt strawberry held by Marilyn Thomas in the Wags auction and Jim Naylor has a question
Lealand signing Tory's t-shirt with Mrs Wags and her son Chris looking on
Lealand with Wags, Jay Agajanian and Jimmy Oskie
Lealand and Janet with The Wags and Joe Ellis and Norm Bogan
Lealnd with George Rimmer, an Ausie in town and more
Lealand and Janet at the Ellis Hacienda
Lealand and Janet at dinner with Wags and more
Lealand and Janet with The Wags and Joy Paulson at Calistoga
Lealand with The Gasman, Ron Chaffin, The Demon and Mike Spencer
Lealand with Lee Vodden, Don Read, Cory Kruseman and Wags
Lealand and family coming to Canyon
Lealand getting an award from Keith Hall
Lealand and Janet at Joe's 80th party
Lealand with Wags at Joe's party
Lealand with Jimmy Oskie, Shane Carson and Jimmy Sills
The Lealand McSpadden Classic was won by Billy Chester
Lealand with Dave Vodden, Tim Green and Wags at the Calistoga Hall of Fame Banquet
Lealand and Janet a christmas a long time ago
Lealand with Bruce Bromme Sr and a crowd
Lealand and son Jeff at an early arrival at the PAS
Janet just barely to the right with the Miss Manzanita girls
Lealand at Grandview Speedway in PA with Danny Pivoveroff, Brett Roa, Promoter Bob Miller and Mike Kirby
Lealand at Perris with Jimmy Oskie, Cory Kruseman, Harlan Willis and Shane Carson
Lealand with Don the Barber, Matt Pecharich and the Wags
Lealand on the podium at Manzy
Lealand listening to Keith Hall at Manzy
Lealand wins the Copper World
Lealand on another podium
Lealand (the Grand Marshal) and Janet in front of the drivers posing for the 2004 Midget Nationals at Belleville
Victory circle podium with Lealand and his family with the winner Charles Davis Jr
The McSpaddens posing at the McSpadden Classic 2018 with the drivers
A tighter shot
# 75 Lealand with another trophy girl
Lealand and trophy girl
Lealand and a trophy girl
Lealand with trophy girl
Lealand with two cuties
Lealand with Chuck Gurney and Sammy Swindell
Lealand in 98 car
Lealand with the Plaque! Note JW Hunt at right
Lealand on the podium with Dean Thompson and Steve Kinser
Lealand on the podium with Dean Thompson and Steve Kinser
Lealand with Jesse Baker on the podium
Lealand on the podium with Bubby Jones and Doug Wolfgang
Lealand, the trophy girl and a silver plater
lealand after another win
Lealand in the winners circle
Lealand has a big trophy here with Janet
Lealand with Dean Thompson and Jack Hewitt
Lealand getting an award at Ascot
Lealand getting interviewed
Lealand with a trophy girl and a plaque
Lealand with a trophy and the trophy girl
Lealand with another award
Lealand at the Chili Bowl with some bikini beauties
Lealand wins something good
Lealand with Sammy on the Chili Bowl Podium
Lealand interviewed by Mickey Dale
Lealand winning at Ascot
Lealand at the Knoxville Nationals on the podium with Bubby Jones and Doug Wolfgang
Lealand with Bailey Brothers car
Lealand with a trophy and is that Janet?
Lealand getting his just rewards at Susquehanna
Lealand with Swindell and $human at 1981 Western World
Lealand with Bailey Brothers car
Lealand with a trophy and is that Janet?
Lealand getting his just rewards at Susquehanna
Lealand with Swindell and $human at 1981 Western World
Lealand interviewed at a NARC race with Bruce Bromme Sr on the left
Lealand interviewed at a CRA race
Lealand after winning another CRA race
Lealand getting honored at the Legends of Ascot
Lealand interviewed by Bobby G
Lealand interviewed at Perris
Lealand McSpadden Classic 2019
Lealand
Lealand and a crowd
Lealand with Ed Rausch and Woddy
Same group with Joe Ellis
Lealand with Ellen Ellis and Rip Williams
Lealand with Fran Herdrich
A nice pose of the pair
Janet and Ellen Ellis
Janet with fran and Ellen with Brodie Roa behind
Janet with Brody, Ellen and Joe
Joe and Ellen Ellis with Fran and Jim Herdrich
Lealand with son Jeff and his two boys
Same group with Jeff story telling
Lealand on crutches after falling off the roof with Wags
Ellen Ellis pics of her favorite driver
Lealand and Ron $human
Lealand
Lealand giving Ellen her ride
Lealand and Ellen
Lealand on Open Wheel
Lealand's T-shirt from Reid's Diesel
Lealand fan card
Open Wheel cover
A Western World poster
Lealand fan card
Tulsa, Ok news bulliten
T-shirt graphic
The 3rd annual McSpadden Classic t- shirt graphic
The 2nd annual McSpadden Classic t- shirt graphic
Another t-shirt graphic
One more
2019 LMC t-shirt
Ascot program
Lealand article
Lealand on the Copper World Program cover
Lealand Legacy
Lealand's thanks for the memories cake
Lealand passer of the week
T-shirt graphic
Lealand
An Ascot program
Lealand ready to go in the # 91
Poster
Lealand pic
Lealand "Tempe Tornado" McSpadden
Lealand was the best driver with the fans I ever saw, period. He handled them like they were all special and never walked away until they were satisfied. He wouldn't leave after a race until he visited with everyone in the long lines waiting. In my early Wagtimes years he had just won an exciting race at Skagit and after the race I got in line with the rest of the fans to wait my turn. He noticed me way back there, excused himself, and came all the way down to say "Wags, go do your thing and then come back, I'll still be here for you". Who does that? NOBODY, and I'll never forget that kindness!
In this life of sprint car racing there are a lot of racers who retire that we all miss. Some, like Lealand, make you feel like you are cheated after they quit racing. Don't get me wrong drivers get to pick when they leave, they have that right, but........... it still hurts us! If you spend as much time around racing as I have you know the who the real hero's are, and he is one of them. The realization that you can never go back to the good old days is sad indeed. Lealand is one of the very best drivers of all time in sprint car racing. He is on top of the Legends list, and no one will ever knock him off.
Lealand is a two time CRA Champion. He won 92 CRA Main events. Up thru 1992 he had 54 fast times, 44 trophy dash wins and 69 Main event wins. I don't have the totals for his last 3 years of racing, but he was pretty good, an understatement. One of the most charismatic drivers who was the example of how to interact with everyone, fans and racers alike, as his legendary career unfolded. He was the best with fans, staying until the lines to visit with him were empty and he could load up and go home. He often manhandled his cars as he won without brakes, missing shocks and flat tires, never giving up. He won with junkboxes and evil handling cars. He once told me, he never raced his competitors, but raced against himself, trying to go faster and faster. That bit him a few times, especially one particular Western World in a black car, but he competed to the Nth degree, always on the gas hard. He is in the Knoxville and Arizona Hall of fame's. The man is just plain the greatest! He won a lot of big races including the Western World and the Chili Bowl. He was the Wagtimes favorite Driver in 1993 and the Wagsdash Grand Marshal in 1999.
Born in Gallup, New Mexico, McSpadden's family moved to Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, in 1954. He began racing in 1968 with a supermodified bought from local racer Billy Shuman. He recorded his first sprint car feature race win at Manzanita Speedway in 1972.
McSpadden's 26-year career included nearly 200 feature wins, including 25 in five different divisions at Manzanita during the 1977 season. His awards are numerous; he is a three-time winner of the Western World Championship for sprint cars (1978, 1993, 1995) and he won the 1991 Chili Bowl midget car event. He also entered and won the Belleville Midget National Championships on the high banks in 1992.
As well as racing in the United States, McSpadden was a frequent visitor to Australia, where he made guest appearances at "Australia vs the USA" nights at Parramatta City Raceway. He also won the 1995 Australian Speedcar Grand Prix (Midgets are called Speedcars in Australia), joining other American winners of the event including Cal Niday, Bob Tattersall, Jimmy Davies, Dave Strickland, A. J. Foyt, Ron "Sleepy" Tripp, Steve Kinser and Johnny Pearson.
One particular race at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, saw McSpadden crash out in his heat. He was badly shaken and his car took severe damage but promoter J.W. Hunt offered to add $1,000 to the winner's purse if McSpadden could come back through the qualifying B-main race and win the main event. He won both the B-main and the main event to win the increased purse.
He retired from competitive racing in 1996 after winning the SCRA non-winged sprint car championship
In 1998, McSpadden was inducted into the Arizona Motorsports Hall of Fame. He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2000, the Arizona Republic named him the fifth-greatest driver from that state in the past 100 years.
By the Arizon hall of fame at his induction
Lealand was born July 16, 1946 in Gallup New Mexico. His family returned to the Phoenix area when he was 8 years old. The family settled into the Tempe Arizona area. Leland participated in school athletics, such as track and field, pole vaulting, weight lifting, and football. His interest in cars, then racing, did not take long after graduation. He was involved in drag racing, motorcycles and hydroplane boats. Right after his high school graduation he went to work for Zircon Precision Products, a machine shop which he has worked for over 40 years. Thru out this time in his life, his friends included two brothers Billy and Ronnie Shuman. In 1967 Billy purchased a super modified and Lealand did some mechanic work on it. The following year when Billy secured a sprint car ride, Lealand purchased the modified from him. In the mid 1970’s, he had been driving that used modified, when he got his break. Jerry McClung had vacated the Cecil Coddle ride, and convinced him to give a chance to McSpadden. Lealand’s run with Coddle started the young man on a life of being a professional weekend racer. With the flexibility that his employer offered him throughout his racing career, he was able to stay close to home, Janet his wife, Jeff and Michelle his children.
It did not take long for the “Tempe Tornado” to impress fans and carve his name in the record books at Manzanita. He won his first sprint main in 1972. He won his first CRA feature at Manzanita in 1973. Lealand claimed the Arizona Racing Association championship in 1975. Lealand went on to amass and additional 25 victories during the 1977 season in five divisions: sprints, midgets, super modified, sprint buggies and modified stocks.
At the Knoxville National Sprint Car Championships in 1977 he finished second to Doug Wolfgang driving for Gary Stanton. In 1978 Stanton hired Ron Shuman to be his driver, but he took the ride in Don Siebert’s USAC Sprint car, so Lealand was back in the Stanton car. They did some traveling and hit the bigger shows that year. One of the USAC car owners that McSpadden impressed with his go for broke driving style, was Don Siebert. Don offered McSpadden a ride, which he responded with a USAC win on the mile at Indianapolis State Fairgrounds. Don was working on putting together a deal for Indianapolis for the following year when he passed away.
1978 was also the year the Lealand won his first World of Outlaw race at Ascot, in the Stanton non winged sprint car. In late 1978, McSpadden took over the controls of the Bailey Brothers black number 01 car. Lealand won the Western World Championship at Manzanita Speedway. He continued to have success with the Bailey’s thru 1985. Winning many CRA and Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) events, which included the 1981 and 1984 Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway in Washington.
In 1986 Lealand tied Jeff Gordon in the voting for the National Sprint Car Poll “Wild Child Award”, which is presented annually for exciting performances. Driving for Casey Luna at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas, he won the World of Outlaw race in 1987. One year later, he won the sprint car portion of the Copper World Classic at the one mile oval of Phoenix International Raceway driving for Frank Lewis. He drove for Frank from 1988 thru 1993, he won 50 CRA, joint CRA/National Championship Racing Association (NCRA), and USA wins during this period. He won the CRA event at Knoxville driving for Danny Pivovaroff in 1990.
As well as racing in the United States, McSpadden was a frequent visitor to Australia, where he made guest appearances at “Australia vs the USA” nights a Parramatta City Raceway. He also won the 1995 Australian Speedcar Grand Prix (Midgets are called Speedcars in Australia), joining other American winners of the event including Bob Tattersall, Jimmy Davies, A J Foyt, Sleepy Tripp, and Steve Kinser.
He claimed the CRA title in 1992 driving for Frank Lewis. During that time he continued to pick up major wins in midgets and dirt championship cars. He won the 1991 Chili Bowl Nationals, the 1992 Hulman Classic, and the 1992 Belleville Midget Nationals. In 1994 McSpadden continued his success driving for Andy Morales on the CRA and USAC trail. Ron Chaffin hired Lealand in the 1995 to drive the Madera Produce car. They obtained 10 victories and the 1995 Sprint Car Racing Association point championship. Lealand choose to retire after the 1995 season, and has been missed greatly every race since then!
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