Burlington, Iowa
(July 29, 1988) - A rift has developed
between the International Motor Contest Association and Clinton driver Duke
Jackson. Unfortunately, 34 Raceway, owner/promoter Larry Kemp and the state’s
other late model pilots are also being devoured by the chasm.
At issue is an IMCA late model Summer Series
race in Vinton July 14, won by Darrel DeFrance. Upon completion, Red Dralle
indicated he wanted to claim Jackson’s
engine for the $1,525 fee. Jackson
refused the claim, and all hell broke loose. Kemp, co-promoter of the race, told
Jackson he
would lose his Summer Series points but retain his points at 34 Raceway, where he
led a season-long battle with Burlington’s
Ron Jackson.
Several days later, IMCA office manager Rick
Haefner informed Duke Jackson he was suspended from racing at IMCA tracks for
21 days (his eligibility will return next weekend) and would lose both his
Summer Series and local track points.
Kemp chose to stick to his original edict,
and let Jackson
compete at 34 Raceway the following week. The IMCA then sent letters to all
late model drivers, telling them they would be penalized for competing in any
race with Duke Jackson.
When Jackson once again participated at 34
Raceway last Saturday, six others - Lem Blankenship, Kevin Cale, Ron Jackson,
Jeff Johnson, Frank Springsteen and Dave Warth - all left their late models on
the trailers and did not compete.
On Sunday, promoters from the IMCA’s five
sanctioned late model tracks - Kemp, Eldon’s Dale Gegner, Independence’s Jerry
Blue, Marshalltown’s Barry Nuese and Steve Priske, and Webster City’s Bill Rice
– met with the IMCA in Amana. There, they were told the original ruling stands.
“All we’re doing is enforcing the rule as it
is written,” said IMCA executive secretary Bill Haglund. “Those rules were mailed
to all 1987 members before the season began. Jackson was a member in 1987 and was aware of
the penalty.”
Kemp and the other promoters maintain they
were told, when the IMCA added the late model class last year, they would be allowed
to determine the rules.
“I’m going to resign from IMCA because I'm
just burned out on the late model thing,” he said.
One final note: All may not yet be resolved.
It appears several technicalities in the IMCA rules were not followed when
Dralle made the claim.
“I got a call from the guy that owns Duke
Jackson’s car, and they have retained an attorney,” said Kemp. “They’re
pursuing their rights.”
There won’t be racing in Donnellson, and
nobody really realizes just how close the Lee County Speedway came to shutting
down for the season.
This past week has been truly hectic for
promoter Deo Loney and the Lee County Fair board – currently at odds over the
operation of the 3/8-mile clay oval.
The two no longer have a contract for the
completion of this season. That was dissolved last Tuesday, July 19 - prior to
the opening of the Lee County Fair. Loney and the fair board are scheduled to
meet Wednesday to try and come to terms for the rest of the summer.
Right now, racing is in limbo at Donnellson -
on that, both Loney and fair board president Wayne Hennies agree. When or if it
will resume remains up in the air.
“We’ll take a breather this week, but we will
have races starting August 5 and then every Friday at least through August,” said Loney.
“We’ll make a big show out of our season championship.”
‘There’ll be no races this week,” said
Hennies. “It is anticipated agreements will be negotiated to continue for the
remainder of the season. Right now, we’ve got nothing."
