(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
Former NASCAR Modified champion Carl “Bugsy” Stevens is recovering following a bike-riding crash. The news, released on Tuesday, came via racing journalist Mark “Bones” Bourcier on Facebook.
“Three-time NASCAR National Modified champion Bugs Stevens phoned to report that he’d fractured a couple of vertebrae (one thoracic, one lumbar),” Bourcier wrote.
The injury came during what Bourcier says was a “slow-speed Florida bike-riding crash.”
Throughout his career, Stevens piled on success in Modified racing, driving the famed ‘Ole Blue’ No. 3 for Boehler Racing, a car that still competes on the NASCAR Modified circuit today with Matt Swanson behind the wheel.
Stevens also was a champion at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, along with Seekonk Speedway, a Massachusetts oval, and multiple other tracks in the New England area.
His success didn’t only come in Modifieds, as Stevens competed in three Monster Energy Cup Series races during his time behind the wheel, all of which in 1970. He finished sixth in the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving a car for Richard Brown.
He ran the first three years of the modern era in the Whelen Modified Tour, grabbing a best finish of second driving the famed ‘Mystic Missile’ for Bob Garbarino.
Stevens is a member of Seekonk’s Wall of Fame and also was inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in the class of 1998.
Bugsy,
“A slow-speed Florida bike-riding crash.” Bugsy… do you expect us to believe that “slow-speed” nonsense ????? Not sure you ever done anything “slow-speed”. But hopefully you’ll recover quickly and be pain free very soon.
What a tremendous wheel man. Loved it when he came down to Long Island and ran with Evans, Jarzombeck and the others. I am talking late 70’s here. Also saw it at the ROC events at the old Trenton Speedway
No doubt that someone was attempting to pass him. When I was a kid I was, still am a fan of Bugs and watched him in Modifieds and Pro Stocks at Seekonk in the 70’s and 80’s. Ahhh the good ol’ days. Get well soon Mr. Berghman.
“Bugsy”
See what happens when you go slow! Stick with four wheels, and you’ll be fine. Thanks for all the memories.