Fred DeSarro

3/7/1937 - 1/11/1978

Record updated 01-Nov-06

DeSarro was a fierce competitor but whatever he did, he did with class. He won the 1970 NASCAR National Modified Championship and four consecutive Thompson Speedway Championships starting in 1974. He was critically injured during the warm-up at Thompson Speedway. He died three weeks later.

Fred DeSarro
Fred DeSarro raced bikes as a youth, then moved on to racing boats. When he turned 16, he graduated to stock cars. He quickly established himself at the Waterford-New London track, then moved on to the Norwood Arena.
 
In 1970, DeSarro captured the NASCAR National Modified Championship, driving the Kozella Woodchopper #15. The next year, he and Bugs Stevens switched rides, with Fred ending up in Len Boehler’s #3, Ole Blue. In 1972, DeSarro won the inaugural Spring Sizzler, the only Sizzler to ever be won in a coupe. DeSarro went on to win the Stafford Championship that year, and he became a repeat champion in 1976.

DeSarro won four consecutive Thompson Speedway Championships starting in 1974, taking down 14 feature wins in ’74 alone at the 5/8 mile track. The same year, he went south to win the Race of Champions at Trenton.

Racing columnist Phil Smith summed up Fred DeSarro’s career best. “Whatever he did, he did with class.” Smith says. “He did it clean, and he did it with class.” Smith remembers DeSarro as a “fierce competitor…very, very intense.” Fred’s father, Alfred “Fred, Sr.” DeSarro, was involved throughout Fred’s career, as was his wife, Linda.

On October 8, 1978, DeSarro was critically injured during warm-ups at the Thompson Speedway. He died three weeks later on  November 1st.



New England Antique Racers

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