Benny Parsons passed away
Very sad news:
Former NASCAR champion Benny Parsons dies of lung cancer
January 16, 2007
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA (TICKER) — Former NASCAR champion and popular broadcaster Benny Parsons died Tuesday of complications stemming from his battle with lung cancer. He was 65.
Parsons had been hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina since December 26. He was diagnosed with cancer six months ago but continued to work as a racing analyst for NBC after learning of his condition.
The 1973 NASCAR champion and winner of the 1975 Daytona 500, Parsons never allowed his competitive streak to affect his pleasant personality – or vice versa.
“Benny Parsons was the kindest, sweetest, most considerate person I have ever known,� said Darrell Waltrip, also a former NASCAR champion and announcer. “He was almost too nice to be a race car driver, and I say that as a compliment.
“In my 30-odd years of racing Benny Parsons, I never knew of anyone being mad at Benny.�
Parsons joined the NASCAR circuit full-time in 1970 and registered 21 victories, 20 poles and 283 top-10 finishes in 526 starts in his 18-year career. He was inducted to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
After retiring from racing in 1988, Parsons began his broadcasting career with ESPN and later worked for NBC and cable network TNT. His friendly demeanor made him a favorite of virtually all NASCAR fans.
“Benny Parsons was a great champion, a great ambassador for our sport,� Waltrip said. “But more than that, he was a great person. He exemplified that good guys can be winners, too.�
