May 29--- Just a mile north of the old Norwood Arena Speedway site is Bezema Buick, Pontiac, GMC which is the site for the 3rd Annual Norwood Arena Reunion on Sunday, June 3.  "I've been to the last two of them and I'm planning on being there, again. " said Bugs Stevens of Rehoboth. Bugs raced at Norwood Arena during the glory days of the NASCAR Modified era of of the late 60's and early 70's.  He was the NASCAR Modified champion '67, '68 and '69.
 
         His real name is Carl Berggman.  Bugs Stevens, who took a racing name, started his racing career while he was serving in the military using the name "Bugs" Stevens while he was in the Air Force  in Texas and launched his career at the Pan-Am Speedway in San Antonio.  At the time, the military frowned on it's members competing in motorsports.
 
        In addition to his three  NASCAR Modified Championships,  for a decade  between 1966 and 1975, Bugs Stevens never finished lower than sixth in NASCAR National Modified Points. He also won four Stafford Speedway (CT) Championships and is the only driver to win Stafford Track Championships on both dirt and  asphalt, winning the 1966 Championship, the last year Stafford was dirt. It should be noted that he accomplished that feat even without taking a main event!  Stevens' other Stafford Championships were in 1968, 1971 and 1974 on the asphalt.  The now retired Rehoboth driver is the all-time winner at Stafford with taking 73 checkered flags at that CT oval.
 
      Stevens also won championships at Norwood, Seekonk, Thompson and Malta, New York. He won races at tracks up-and-down the east coast from Maine to Florida.   The southeastern MA speedster also drove the Richard Brown #36 Superbird in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series three  times in 1970, placing sixth in the World 600 behind winner Donnie Allison, in his first try.  Bugs also raced in the Atlanta Dixie 500 and the Darlington Southern 500 running into engine problems while running around the top 10 in 1970.
 
         While he made a quick foray into NASCAR's top series at that time, Carl "Bugs" Stevens  decided against racing full time in the Cup Series because of business, family and other pressures.  At the time, it was well known that then NASCAR Grand National southern-based circuit never really opened the doors up to drivers from the northeast and was a very provincial circuit.  He retired from the NASCAR Modified action in 1987. But, he didn't quit entirely as he took a Seekonk Pro Stock Championship in 1989 during his so-called post retirement.
 
     This legendary NASCAR Modified driver tours the southern New England area during the racing season just as soon as he comes north from his winter home in Florida. He also makes it up to the northern climes in late January for the NEAR Hall of Fame Dinner in Windsor, CT.  Other drivers, car owners, officials and fans who attended Norwood Arena every Saturday night are also expected to be on hand for this 3rd Annual Norwood Arena event.
 
       Attendees coming to the Norwood Arena Reunion are encouraged to bring their own personal scrap books, pictures and other memorabilia to be displayed on the scrapbook table. As in past years, host Marty Bezema, Sr. will offer a complimentary light lunch for all of those who attend at the on-site Marty's Cafe. If you haven't made it to the two  previous Norwood Arena Reunion/Celebration you have a another chance to partake in a trip down memory lane when the racing was red hot at the Norwood Arena Speedway. Mark this down as a must attend event on your calendar.  It goes on Sunday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.  For further information call Bezema Buick, Pontiac, GMC at 781.769.4700.
 
        The True Value Modified Series performed at the Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH last weekend. W. Bridgewater's Jimmy Kuhn ended up starting on the pole and led the first 17 laps when Dwight Jarvis, a local competitor from VT, took the lead and led the 18-25th circuits. At that point three time TVMS Champion Kirk Alexander of NH took the point and held on until the 100 lap getting the checkered flag. Ted Christopher led the Connecticut Valley crowd with a sixth overall. Some 26 Mods made it into the feature grid including the top six that ran the B Main. Ten entries didn't make it to the starting grid including TVMS headman Jack Bateman of Claremont, NH.  The TVMS moves to the Canaan Fair paved track on Saturday night. Jimmy Kuhn has a good shot at a win there because he's taken one there previously.
 
      The NASCAR Grand National Division ran an unprecedented two-race weekend as it combined its Busch East Series with its West Series counterpart for a pair of races in the Midwest. Russell driver Jeff Anton capitalized on the two-track weekend to pick up championship points on his East Series competition with finishes of fourteenth at the short track in Elko, Minnesota and eighth at Iowa Speedway's 7/8ths mile oval.
 
     The two finishes gave Anton, driver of the No. 30 Baran Institute of Technology/Engineered Floors, Inc. Chevrolet, the fifth-best point total of East Series competitors, moving him from eighteenth to tenth in series points after three of fourteen regular-season races.
 
      Joey Logano of Middletown, CT (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet) continued to demonstrate his remarkable talent by posting his third NASCAR Grand National Series win in his fourth career start Sunday afternoon at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. While seeming unnatural for the 16-year-old to win a third time in four career NASCAR races, the Iowa victory was a natural continuation of a genuine phenomenon. Here’s Logano’s 32-day NASCAR career record:
 
       On  April 19, Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway, one-mile oval, (NASCAR West Series season opening race): First career NASCAR start and first career SuperSpeedway start. Qualified second-fastest. Fourth lap of race (fourth lap of NASCAR career), takes lead for first time from two-time NASCAR West Series champion Mike Duncan. Leads race on four occasions, including final 23 laps. Scores first career NASCAR win and $13,700.
 
     On April 28, Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Greenville, S.C., .500-mile oval, (NASCAR Busch East Series season opening race): First career NASCAR Busch East Series start; first career NASCAR short-track start. First career ole award. Takes lead for first time in NASCAR Busch East Series race from defending race winner Sean Caisse on lap 75. Takes lead from Caisse for final time on lap 123 to win 150-lap race. Scored second career NASCAR win in second career start and wins $8,800.
 
      Then on May 18, Elko (Minn.) Speedway, .375-mile oval: First ever NASCAR Grand National Division combination point race. Qualifies fourth fastest. Three laps after a lap 60 restart and running in top-5, tangles with Peyton Sellers, who spins and brings out the caution. NASCAR officials move Logano to tail end of lead lap cars for the restart as a penalty for
overly aggressive driving. Logano was also part of race’s final caution flag with West Series driver Brian Ickler on lap 144. Logano posted a 19th-place lead lap finish and won $800.
 
       And finally on May 20, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa, .875-mile oval, first NASCAR intermediate track start: Qualified second-fastest to 2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick, who less than 24 hours earlier won the NASCAR NEXTEL All Star Challenge and $1 million at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Logano takes lead from Harvick for the first time on lap 38. The two swap the lead a total of 15 times. After a total of 18 lead changes among four drivers (Duncan and Justin Lofton also briefly led following pit stops by Logano and Harvick), Logano drives off to finish 2.4 seconds ahead over Harvick. Harvick jumps from car and bolts for victory lane, to be among the first to congratulate Logano, who won a single race career record $14,300.
 
       The Pit Stop Talk Challenge is schedule to kick off on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at Londonderry Raceway in Londonderry, New Hampshire.  In conjunction with Londonderry Raceway and Pit Stop Talk a portion of proceeds will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank and Project Bread.
 
       Teams of (6) racers will compete for some great prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place … plus bragging rights.  Rockland's Doug Hurst #43 (former NASCAR Busch East Series driver) and JR Baril #77 (2006 Lee USA Speedway Late Model track champion) will be on hand to sign autographs.  There will be 50-50 drawings.  Prize give-a-ways.  A televised event on FSN and other cable channels (to be announced at a later date).    Londonderry Raceway owned and operated by Jim and Nancy Lafford since 2002, has take Kart Racing to its next level.
 
      Londonderry Raceway has a full racing menu for all ages starting as young as 5-years-old.  Quarter Midget Juniors (5 thru 8), Tiger Sprints (7 thru 11), Junior Outlaws (11 thru 14), Junior Sportsman Champs (8 thru 12), Junior Champ Heavy (12 thru 15), Stock Medium (15 and up), Stock Heavy (15 and up), F200 Senior Champs (14 and up), Londonderry Raceway Open Rigid Mini-Cups (14 and up), Londonderry Raceway Classis Lites 600cc Dwarfs (16 and up), Londonderry Raceway 500cc Mini Sprints (14 and up), Londonderry Raceway 600cc Mini Sprints (15 and up), Londonderry Raceway Roadrunners 4 cylinder cars (14 and up) plus Londonderry Raceway welcomes any and all classes of 4 cylinders or less.  Londonderry Raceway offers its racing fans racing from April thru October each year.
 
       The schedule for the NASCAR LENOX Industrial Tools 300 and Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) has been announced.  Fans can purchase tickets now for some of the hottest racing action in motorsports, including the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 300 on Sunday, July 1.The NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will open the weekend with practice sessions and qualifying on Thursday, June 28.
 
     The first practice sessions for both the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will start the schedule on Friday, June 29.  Afternoon action will be highlighted by Bud Pole Qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 300.  A fierce battle between the Busch East Series veterans and the “Generation Next” rookies in the New England 125 will close out the day.
 
     On Saturday morning, June 30, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will have two morning practice sessions.  In between the Cup Series practices, the NASCAR Busch Series will qualify for the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com.  The afternoon begins with the ground pounding Whelen Tour Modifieds competing in the New England 100.  In Saturday’s finale, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, and David Green will be looking to become the first repeat NASCAR Busch Series winner at NHIS in the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com.
 
    “The Race to the Chase 2007” will begin on Sunday, July 1 at the LENOX Industrial Tools 300.  This Car of Tomorrow event starts the 10 race dash to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship round. Tickets for all of these great NASCAR events on Friday, Saturday, and even Sunday’s LENOX Industrial Tools 300 are available online at www.nhis.com or by calling Guest Services at (603) 783-4931.
 
      Thursday Night Thunder got off last week at the Thompson Speedway in CT.  Coming in eighth in the Thompson Modified class was  Richie Ferreira, Raynham. In the SK Modifieds Tom Cravenho, also of Raynham, was a runner-up and is due for a win.  Needham's Kerry Malone is back racing at both the Thompson and Stafford (CT) Speedway's Sk Modified division. Malone took a pair of fourth places at both of those tracks recently.
 
      At Seekonk Speedway hometown driver Dave Darling came from tenth to win the Pro Stock main while third went to Taunton's  Ken Spencer while John Debrowski of Avon cracked the top five. Berkley's Scott Fournier came in eighth and Taunton's Scott Dion rounded out the top ten. This Saturday night the Pro Stocks will go after $1,800 to win in the feature event. In the Street class Frank Duquette of E. Freetown came in third. In the Sport Trucks Hugh Bowser was runner-up in the feature with Adam Murphy of Rochester cracked the top five, Zach Tucan of Taunton was seventh.
 
     Up in the north country, Rick Martin of Westport took in last weekend's PASS Series event at the White Mountain Motorsports Park in N. Woodstock, NH. He came in sixth with Mike Rowe of ME taking the 150 lapper while Dave Dion of Hudson, NH was third. Dion, a Snow Bird made his return from Florida, and despite his age, he hasn't lost his touch driving racecars.
 
     Let's see what's happening in southern New England this weekend that kicks off the month of June. Stafford offers Friday night NASCAR Weekly Racing Series action. On Saturday, Seekonk adds the USAC Ford Focus Series to the race card while it's dirt track racing at the Whip City Speedway in Westfield.  Drag racing goes all weekend at the New England Dragway in Epping, NH while NHIS in Loudon, NH offers the bikers the LRRS on the 1.6 mile road course.

    Lou Modestino is a long-time columnist and Public Relations person, working for numerous tracks in the northeast, and now writes for The Enterprise in Brockton, MA.  He may be reached at lmodestino@hotmail.com. 

Long Island Motorsports News encourages you to patronize our fine sponsors---

Disclaimer:  Views expressed by columnists and all others on this website are strictly their own, and may not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the management of Long Island Motorsports News.