NASCAR; ‘Ol’ BP’ recalled
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Benny Parsons was remembered by the NASCAR community Friday for everything from his gift of gab, voracious appetite, love of golf and skill on the racetrack.
But more than anything, “Ol’ BP” was remembered for being a friend to everyone in the racing community.
“I’ve lost a buddy and it’s hard to take,” two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett said in one of six eulogies given for Parsons. “But I know I’m not alone: Benny was everybody’s buddy.”
Parsons, the 1973 Cup champion and an award-winning NASCAR broadcaster, died Tuesday from complications stemming from his brief battle with lung cancer. He was 65.
NASCAR’s past and present turned out to celebrate his life at the Grace Covenant Church, which hosted the ceremony dubbed “A Service of Victory.”
A contingent of NASCAR executives, led by chairman Brian France and president Mike Helton, took up one full row in a church that was filled with both stars and the regular people who grew up alongside the poverty-stricken Parsons in the North Carolina foothills.
Junior Johnson came from South Carolina, and Darrell Waltrip made the trip from Tennessee. They were joined by active drivers Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and a heavy-hearted Greg Biffle, who owes his NASCAR career to Parsons for spotting him at a regional event then convincing Jack Roush to hire him.
The casket was flanked with family photos and floral arrangements signed from everyone ranging from the biggest names in auto racing (Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon) to the common people who related to Parsons’ big heart and folksy presence.
“He was part Elvis, part Santa Claus and part comedian,” pit reporter Matt Yocum said.
The eulogies – given by five of Parsons’ broadcasting partners and childhood friend Tom Thornton – all touched on Parsons’ love of food. His popularity as an announcer started during the popular “Buffet Benny” ESPN segment that he did about food available at race tracks.
Jarrett recalled the days when the crew had to walk through the grandstands before every race to get to the booth, and Parsons could never make it up the steps at Michigan International Speedway without taking several breaks. It led to the crew having a smorgasbord of treats to snack on during the race because fans would hand Parsons cake and cookies as he hoofed his way through the stands.
” ‘Wanna stop and get a bite?’ was not a question,” Allen Bestwick joked about one of Parsons’ common lines during their drives each week to and from the racetrack.
Jarrett and Bob Jenkins, partners in the booth with Parsons at ESPN, also recalled a stellar driving career that earned Parsons a spot in NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers. He won 21 races, including the 1975 Daytona 500, and 20 poles. He was the first Cup competitor to qualify for a race faster than 200 mph, going 200.176 mph at the 1982 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
But he did it despite humble beginnings that saw him raised in a home with no running water or electricity, before he moved to Detroit, where he briefly drove a taxi before pursuing his career as a race car driver.
“I’ll always think of him in overalls with a hammer loop,” Jenkins said, “because that was his first driver suit.”
Jarrett told the story of Parsons’ championship season, when he was involved in an accident during the season finale. Needing to finish the race to clinch the championship, nearly everyone in the pits chipped in to help Parsons repair his car and get back on the track.
“Crew members of competitors came to help Benny, because they all loved him,” Jarrett said.
Parsons was diagnosed with cancer in his left lung in July. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments – continuing to travel to the racetrack and call races when he was up to it – and he was declared cancer-free in October. But the treatment cost Parsons the use of his left lung, and he was hospitalized Dec. 26 when doctors found a blood clot in his right lung. He was placed in an induced-coma.
Parsons will be buried following a private family service today in Millers Creek.