Kenny Wilkinson, Jr., from North Turner, Maine, was killed during a heat race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine. The accident occurred on Saturday, 26 May 1990, about two-thirds of the way through a 42-lap feature event for modified race cars. His car ran over the wheel of a competitor, launching it into the air. It hit head-first into the retaining wall coming out of turn four. Wilkinson was declared dead at the scene.

Wilkinson was the mechanic on the car, and drove the car only in races because its owner, Billy Childs, lacked the experience to drive it in competition. Childs would drive the car in practice and warm-up, but Wilkinson would handle the steering duties during races. It was Wilkinson's first year driving in the open-wheeled modified division, but he had two years experience driving street stock at Oxford Plains Speedway, followed by three years driving late model sportsmen at the same track. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Auburn, Maine.

Less than three months later, fellow open-wheel racer Lew Weatherby sustained career-ending injuries in a similar crash into a retaining wall at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.

R.I.P