1980 – Santa Fe Flag for Melius in Dixieland 100

Mike Melius claimed victory in the Dixieland Challenge Invitational 100 at Santa Fe Speedway. Track announcer Jan Gabriel makes the trophy presentation. – Vince & Dorothy Mayer Photo

Willow Springs, Ill. (July 17, 1980) – Mike Melius took the lead when pacesetting Al Schill spun out on the 90th circuit and went on to win Thursday night’s Dixieland Challenge Invitational 100-lap feature on Santa Fe Speedway’s longer track. It was Melius’ first career victory at the track.

Former track champion Jim O’Conner timed in fastest but elected to start the century grind on the outside of the front row, giving second fastest qualifier Ken Pohlman the pole position. The strategy paid off as the Kankakee resident blasted into the lead at the drop of the green.

After a Jim Partipilo spin on lap 4, O’Conner resumed the lead with a fast moving Tony Izzo moving up to challenge O’Conner.

Slow moving traffic in the upper groove blocked O’Conner’s path briefly on lap 8, allowing Izzo to slide by for the lead.

Lap 25 saw the yellow come out again when Doug Worman tangled with Al Johnson and Bobby Allison, one of two NASCAR stars on hand for the show.

When racing action resumed, Schill powered by Izzo for the top spot.

Four laps later, Darrell Waltrip, the other visiting NASCAR star, retired because of mechanical problems. Waltrip would be credited with 22nd place.

On the restart, Schill proceeded to open up a comfortable margin over Whitey Harris, Izzo, Melius, O’Conner, and Pohlman at the event’s mid-point, but on the 53rd circuit his cushion disintegrated when John Provenzano spun in the third turn. Three rounds later, Schill drifted high in turn four and Harris got around to take control.

Harris, Pohlman, and Doug Worman would tangle on lap 69, forcing Harris to restart at the rear and giving the lead back to Schill. Schill would maintain the lead until lap 90, when he spun in the infield, giving the lead to Melius.

Melius would survive a lap 98 restart and go on to post the win. O’Conner would nail down runner-up honors with Harris third, Eddie Ferrell fourth, and Larry Jackson fifth.

Despite losing a lap due to a flat tire, Bobby Allison would finish 15th.


Results –


1. Mike Melius, Random Lake, Wis.
2. Jim O’Conner, Kankakee
3. Whitey Harris, Lake Villa
4. Eddie Ferrell, Clarendon Hills
5. Larry Jackson, Lyons
6. Ted Dolhun, Brookfield, Wis.
7. Al Johnson, Justice
8. Dave Feese, Saybrook
9. Jim Partipilo, Berkley
10.John Provenzano, Glen Ellyn