Former racer and longtime race official Darrel Dovel has died, according to former CCS Florida boss Henry DeGouw citing information from Dovel’s family. Dovel was 85.

Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Dovel was an AMA National dirt tracker in the 1960s and competed bar-to-bar with the likes of Joe Leonard, Dick Mann, Gary Nixon, George Roeder, Gene Romero, and Sammy Tanner, among others.

After retiring from racing, Dovel became a race official and was part of the officiating crew at the very first CCS race in 1984. Dovel later served as the CCS National Referee, the AMA Pro Racing National Referee, and the NASB National Referee, at different times.

Dovel worked as a CCS race official as late as the Race of Champions at Daytona International Speedway in October of 2013, according to ASRA/CCS President Kevin Elliott.

Dovel was living in Adamsville, Alabama, at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife Peggy.

More details will be posted as they become available.