Remembering the life and legacy of three-time NASCAR Modified champion Bugsy Stevens

Bugsy Stevens, whose real name was Carl Bergman, won the NASCAR National Modified Championship three years in a row from 1967-69.

Because he was in the military when he started his racing career, Carl Bergman began racing under the name 'Bugs Stevens' in order to not draw attention to himself. The pseudonym would stick for the remainder of his racing career.

Bugsy Stevens at speed in his Modified during a race at Martinsville Speedway.

Bugsy Stevens and Pete Hamilton pose at Daytona International Speedway. The pair raced against each other in two Permatex 300s, in 1967 and 1968.

Bugsy Stevens poses with his Lenny Boehler-owned NASCAR Modified in the late 1960s. He piloted the famous Ole Blue No. 3 to each of his three NASCAR National Modified Championships.

NASCAR Modified racing standouts Fred DeSarro (left) and Bugsy Stevens pose in the pit area at a NASCAR event.

Bugsy Stevens drove to the Modified track championship at the Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn., and was also named the NASCAR Modified division's Most Popular Driver in 1971. Stevens won four track titles at Stafford and is the only driver to win a championship there on both dirt and asphalt.

Bugsy Stevens leads Fred DeSarro during a 1970s NASCAR Modified race at Martinsville Speedway.

Between 1966 and 1975, Stevens never finished worse than sixth in NASCAR National Modified points. He won track titles at Stafford Motor Speedway, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Seekonk Speedway, Norwood Arena, Catamount Stadium, Albany-Saratoga Speedway and Westboro Speedway.

Ralph “Hop” Harrington (No. 1) leads Bugsy Stevens (No. 15) during the NASCAR Modified portion of the Cardinal 500 Classic at Martinsville Speedway.

Stevens made one start in the SCCA Trans-Am Series driving this Troy Promotions 1970 Ford Mustang in the race held at Lime Rock Park. A water leak after seven laps dropped Stevens to a 28th place finish.

Two of the best when it came to racing Modified stock cars, “Steady” Eddie Flemke (left) and Bugsy Stevens, sit on the pit wall while talking before a race.

Bugsy Stevens raced in the Permatex 300 at Daytona International Speedway four times from 1967-70. His best finish was 10th in both the 1967 and 1968 races. He also made three NASCAR Cup Series starts in 1970, including a sixth-place finish in the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.