Bugsy Stevens

Competitor
CLASS OF 1998

Born Carl Steven Berghman, he assumed the alias ‘Bugsy Stevens’ when he drove his first race at the Pan American Speedway in Texas in 1957 while he was stationed in the service and his racing was unauthorized. He kept the name when he returned to New England and continued his racing career.

In the mid-1960’s, he teamed up with car owner Lenny Boehler and would travel throughout the northeast chasing NASCAR points. It paid off with 3 straight NASCAR Modified National Championships in 1967, 1968 and 1969. Along the way, the won track championships at Thompson Speedway (1966, 1968, 1969), Norwood Arena (1966), Stafford Speedway (1966, 1968) and Catamount Stadium (1967-1968).

In 1970 Stevens tried his hand at Grand National (now NASCAR Cup Series), driving at the Atlanta, Darlington and Charlotte speedways. His sixth place finish at the World 600 earned him Rookie of the Race honors.

Early in the 1971 season, Bugsy’s sudden switch with fellow Hall of Famer Fred DeSarro into Sonny Koszela‘s ‘Woodchopper Special’ #15 was a major event in racing media circles at the time. Driving for Koszela, Bugsy won two more championships at Stafford Speedway (1971, 1974) winning 13 times in 1974, including the Spring Sizzler. He also won a 500 lapper at the Thompson Speedway, 3 Dogwood Classics (1972, 1974, 1975) & a Cardinal Classic (1977) at Martinsville Speedway, 1972 Modified Championship at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in NY and the 1977 Modified Championship at Seekonk Speedway,

At the close of the 1970’s, he paired up with car owner Joe Brady and won modified track championships at Westboro Speedway (1980) and Seekonk Speedway (1981).

Bugsy’s colorful personality made him popular with his fellow competitors, a darling of the media and a fan favorite. He raced into the early 1990’s, including a successful run driving Dick Del Sesto’s Pro Stock at Seekonk Speedway where he won 9 races and the 1989 track championship from 1987-1990 while in his mid-50’s. Bugsy was also a 3-time Pole Award winner on the NASCAR Winston Modified Tour in the 1980’s.

He retired as the all-time winningest driver at Stafford Speedway (72) and second only to Fred DeSarro at Thompson Speedway (42). He was a 7-time winner at Martinsville Speedway in VA. Other tracks where he visited victory lane include the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, Trenton Speedway, Shangri-La Speedway, Lee Speedway, Westboro Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway and Oxford Plains Speedway.

Stevens was named one of NASCAR’s 10 Greatest Modified Drivers in 2003. He was the recipient of the Ron Bouchard Memorial Award in 2017. He passed away on May 20, 2024 at the age of 90.