 Leonard clinched his second consecutive championship at the California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway.In 1973, Leonard would return to Vel's Parnelli Jones, driving the #1 Samsonite Parnelli VPJ-2-Offenhauser.The season would be a struggle for Leonard as he could only get a best finish of 5th place at the season-opening Texas 200 at Texas World Speedway and the second heat of the Trentonian 300 at Trenton International Speedway.