Notes:
A fiery four car accident on the 12th lap of the scheduled 30-lap main event for Super Stocks on Evergreen Speedway's 3/8 mile paved oval in Monroe, Washington, involved the cars of Leonard Sundholm, Ralph Lewis, Steve Hurley and John Gay. Reportedly, Sundholm's car had come to a stop on the backstretch. Stan Smith just missed Sundholm's car, but Gay was unable to see it and plowed into the back of it, triggering an explosion and fire. Hurley then crashed into the rear of Gay's car as Lewis drove through the flames.

Severely burned, Gay, a resident of Snohomish, was transported by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Sundholm suffered a minor hand injury, while Hurley suffered burns to his face and Lewis suffered minor burns.

The remainder of the scheduled weekly program was cancelled. The following week, drivers in the four divisions in the weekly racing program donated their purses to Gay.

13 days after the accident, John Gay passed away from his burns at Harborview Medical Center. At the regular racing program held the next night, the track flag flew at half mast and drivers did a memorial lap with the pole position left open. Each car had Gay's number painted on it and his number was retired from use at the track. Over $20,000 was raised for the family. A memorial service was held at the track on 07 September.

Gay was survived by wife Marti, six children and one grandchild. The family were heavily involved at the track, with his wife video taping each race at Evergreen Speedway, while daughter Dawn was the track photographer. Other family members helped at the track photo booth.

Researched by and entered by Jim Thurman

• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
• Social Security Death Index.
• Washington Death Index, 1940-1996.
• Book "The History of America's Speedways - Past & Present", by Allan E. Brown, third edition, first printing, November 2003, America's Speedways, PO Box 448, Comstock Park, MI, 49321-0448, United States, ISBN 0-931105-61-7, page 731.
• Newspaper "Seattle Times" (Seattle, WA, United States), issue of Thursday, 03 January 1991, article "Suit Filed Over Stock-Car Driver's Death In 1988" by Linda Shaw [T1].
• Newspaper Racing WHEELS (Vancouver, Washington, United States), Vol. 27, No. 29, 24 August 1988.
• Newspaper Racing WHEELS (Vancouver, Washington, United States), Vol. 27, No. 30, 31 August 1988.
• Newspaper Racing WHEELS (Vancouver, Washington, United States), Vol. 27, No. 31, 07 September 1988.
• E-mail by Ray Townsend, dated 18 November 2011, citing [T1].