Seattle Driver Killed -- Jackson's Car Flips In Portland Race

PORTLAND - Rebel Jackson Sr., a 35-year veteran of Pacific Northwest racing, died in an accident at the Portland Speedway after coming out of retirement at age 62.

Jackson's car flipped at more than 100 mph on Saturday in the 10th annual "Coca Cola Open Wheel Spectacular," part of the Portland Rose Festival's Indy car "Speedweek."

His son, Rebel Jackson Jr., the leader in the 1994 Western States Supermodified Tour points standings, also was in the 22-car field and eventually won the race.

"I'm not sure what happened," Jackson Jr. said yesterday.

"I was told something on his car broke and it flipped over. As it was flipping, it hit the wall, cage first."

His father died of head injuries at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.

The senior Jackson was going to run on three super-modified races this year, his son said. Portland was the second of the three.

"He'd been out of racing for a long time," his son said. "I don't know for sure why he started in again."

Mike McLees of Oregon City, whose family also is in racing, called the super-modified race cars "big, winged monsters, the fastest short track cars in world," capable of hitting speeds of 150 mph.

McLees said Jackson was "a fixture in Northwest racing."