Deleene started racing in the 1960 s in Springfield, Illinois where he raced a 57 Chevy two door hardtop with fuel injection and straight front axle. After Springfield closed, he raced in Assumption and he drove a 57 Chevy sedan delivery. In the late 1980’s Deleene started building his 1981 Malibu for the street but eventually his love of the 1/8th mile took over. He began racing at Charleston in 1989 and did so for ten years until we lost him to liver cancer. Everyone that knew him liked him. He was always smiling even when he wasn’t winning. His brother John was his crew chief with many other family members coming to cheer him on including, his wife Judi, his son Marc, his sister in law Judy and nephew Greg. He was always a tough competitor, who was there every week with a smile and a joke.