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16 Jan 07 - 12:59 PM (#1938436) Subject: Obit: Obit: Benny Parsons From: tarheel CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Former race car driver Benny Parsons has died. His son, Keith, said the former taxi driver turned NASCAR champion passed away Tuesday at the age of 65 after a losing battle against lung cancer. Parsons -- born in Wilkes County and raised in Detroit -- was diagnosed with the disease in July after complaining that he was having difficulty breathing. He underwent intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments and was declared "cancer-free" in October. But the aggressive treatment cost Parsons the use of his left lung, and he was hospitalized the day after Christmas when doctors found a blood clot in his right lung. He was transferred to intensive care shortly after his admission, and he remained there in an induced-coma. Parsons, affectionately known throughout NASCAR as "BP," kept fans updated on his condition in a blog on his Web site. At the time of his diagnosis in July, Parsons said "this was a huge shock," having smoked his last cigarette way back in 1978. "I'm determined to pull through this and I appreciate everyone's concerns and prayers during this time," Parsons said. "Everyone I work with has been gracious and accommodating. I plan to keep on talking about racing for as long as I can." Parsons name is among the elite group of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. He won the whole shooting match in 1973 and retired from racing in 1988 to move into the broadcasting booth. He spent the past six years as a commentator on NBC and TNT, and continued to call races from the booth during his treatment. "Benny was a beloved and widely respected member of the NASCAR community, and of the NBC Sports family," said Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports. Parsons made 526 starts behind the wheel from 1964 until his 1988 retirement. "He was a great driver and a terrific broadcaster, but above anything else he was a kind and generous human being. His character and spirit will define how he is remembered by all of us. Benny will be sorely missed." Will Spencer, who owns the Winston Cup museum in Winston-Salem, said last summer that he grew up watching Parsons and Richard Petty. "He's definitely been a staple of the drivers in Winston's 33-year involvement with the sport," he said of Parsons. Survivors include his wife, Terri, and two sons by his late wife -- Kevin and Keith, a former sports writer for The Associated Press, and two granddaughters. |
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16 Jan 07 - 01:30 PM (#1938460) Subject: RE: Obit: Obit: Benny Parsons From: catspaw49 I thought I'd let you post it tarheel as you did with Bobby last week.I've been reading the news stories for awhile. Sadly, this one wasn't too surprising. The cancer was aggressive and so was the treatment. The treatment worked but it did so much damage in the process that even ol' BP couldn't beat this one. I think Darrell Waltrip made one of the best comments and that was that in over thirty years of racing with Benny Parsons he didn't know anyone who had a bad word to say about him. Everybody loved BP. Fans loved him too, both as a racer and as a commentator. He loved helping young drivers find their way and both previous Cup Champion Bill Elliott and truck champ/Cup star Greg Biffle probably owe their NASCAR careers to Parsons. Benny made it his business to know something about everyone from team owners to tire changers and everyone in the garage was a buddy of Benny. He was a great commentator because of that but even moreso because Benny Parsons was a huge fan of the sport and he shared all that enthusiasm and knowledge with his fellow fans......like us. Thanks BP............ Spaw |
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16 Jan 07 - 07:31 PM (#1938897) Subject: RE: Obit: Benny Parsons, From: tarheel Spaw...in my tv news career,i videotaped many,many inteviews with BP with sports reporters,anchormen,and just plain folks from all over! he was knowledgable about almost anything! that alone impressed me about BP... imagine BP discussing the gas shortage ...or what we called the first "Energy Crisis" in our country,back in the 70's to the anchorman of our tv news station in Charlotte,N.C.. "well Doug, it's a fossil fuel and we can't expect it to last forever without a Conservation Program!" wow! could have knocked me over with a feather! here was a guy ,whose roots go way back to the hills of Junior Johnson country in North Carolina,and speaking like a college professor about saving energy, especially the fossil fuel! BP was truly One Of a Kind! Tar... |
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16 Jan 07 - 07:55 PM (#1938926) Subject: RE: Obit: Benny Parsons, From: catspaw49 Tar, that's a great story and really says a lot about Benny Parsons. SPEED Channel is covering January testing at Daytona and had a well done spot on him tonight. He's been in the booth so long that his voice is one of the most recognized even by casual fans and I will certainly miss his knowledge and his humor. BP and Bobby in this past week.........Someone commented that the garages would be different this year without their humor. Both were pretty much universally well liked and were funny and fun to be around. Spaw |
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16 Jan 07 - 08:16 PM (#1938946) Subject: RE: Obit: Benny Parsons, From: Bobert I never met him but he was always one of my favorites... I heard he and Ned Jarett, who I have met, were the two classiest guys in the sport in their day... Ahhhh, that's not to be a put-down of others but an observation about BP and Ned... Bobert |
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16 Jan 07 - 08:54 PM (#1938968) Subject: RE: Obit: race car driver Benny Parsons (Jan 2007) From: Joe Offer I've followed racing since I was about eight, when my dad was sent to Indianapolis every year to work The Race. Thanks for posting this, Chuck. -Joe- |
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17 Jan 07 - 08:23 PM (#1940019) Subject: RE: Obit: race car driver Benny Parsons (Jan 2007) From: catspaw49 BTW, its good to see the overwhelming response to his death in the racing community. Just like I mentioned, from the highest to the lowest in the pecking order have nothing but wonderful things to say about BP. Sometimes nice guys do finish first. JOE......What did your Dad do that took him to Indy? Spaw |