Benny Parsons, a former taxi driver turned NASCAR champion, died Tuesday after a short battle with lung cancer, his son Keith said. He was 65.
Parsons, the 1972 NASCAR champion, died in Charlotte He was diagnosed with cancer in his left lung in July after complaining of difficulty breathing. A former smoker who quit the habit in 1978, Parsons 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 Dec. 26 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.
A member of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers, Parsons retired from racing in 1988 and moved 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.
Parsons, affectionately known throughout NASCAR as “BP,” also continued to host a weekly radio program and keep fans updated on his condition in a blog on his website.
- Benny Parsons hospitalized for complications of lung cancer
- Benny Parsons memorial services announced
- Benny Parsons update: BP in critical but stable condition
- Benny Parsons back in the booth for Talladega
- Parsons racing in memory of late, famous father
Words are never enough, are they? We were just doing this for Bobby Hamilton and his family and here we are again…too soon…too soon!
AutoRacingSport.com sends our very deepest prayers and thoughts to BP’s family and friends.
My thought and prayers to the Parsons family on your loss. It was a joy to listen to BP call a race and this is definitely a major loss to the sport of Nascar. Rest in peace BP.
BP you will never be forgotten. I watched you race from the time i was a small child into my early adult life and had so much respect for you. I am greatly saddened by your loss. I will miss your commentary on race day, but in my heart i know you will always be there. You gave so much to the sport and we will always be grateful to you. You will be missed by fans, drivers , owners and the entire nascar family. my prayers are with your family at this most difficult time, i pray for god to bless them all.
I have been a Nascar fan for years and you will be missed. My Prayers go out to your Family.
Rest In Peace Benny.
He will be very well missed. My prayers go out to the Parsons family. RIP Benny!!! Now he will be in heaven with the legend himself Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Benny was one of the all time great good guys in the sport of Nascar. The annouce booth will be alittle more quite without the voce of BP. As a Nascar fan I always had that thought in the back of my head that BP was a good Ol’ boy he can pull through this. But GOD chose this to be his time and he will be missed much. RIP BP and lets que the duck for BP on last time…
this is so sad, me and my dad are so upset over the news. 1st bobby hamliton and now BP, who’s next?
Nascar will never be the same. BP was awesome as a driver and a commentator. He will truely be missed. Our prayers are with the family!
I’m deeply upset upon learning this afternoon on the passing of BENNY. He was a great driver and great personality on television and radio. We will all greatly miss him. My deepest sympathy goes out to his children and wife.
Eugene
Pemberton NJ.
wow i was shocked to learn about benny passing on. I will certainly miss him calling the races. i send my prayers to the parson family. you will be greatly missed by my family and you will never be forgotten!!
BP was a great commentator. We will miss him greatly. When you think ‘Nascar commentator’, first person who comes to mind is BP. Great guy, great ledgend, great leader.
It was always a Joy to listen to BP broadcast a race. His name is
like Earnhardts name even if you’d never watched Nascar before you knew
the name and you knew who he was. I cant believe Cancer is taking so many
lives first Bobby Hamilton, then Benny and Charlie Poole but I assure you
Those three guys will never be forgotten they’ve all left their mark on
the nascar generations and well never forget them….
My heart goes out to the family memebers of the Hamilton, Parsons and
Poole family!
What can I say, I really didn’t think that we would be talking about this. I just knew that you, BP, would pull through this just fine. While we all will miss you very much, miss your commentary every Sunday, miss seeing your face on the television, we all know your in a much better place now. RIP, you were truly a NASCAR great, a legend.
R.I.P. Benny! Thank you for the Great Memories
The passing of great NASCAR legends like Bobby Hamilton and BP is a sorrowful time for the NASCAR community and my thoughts and prayers go out to Bobby and Benny’s families and also Kenny Wallace’s family on the passing of his father in law due to cancer as well.
it was a great loss!! he was one of a kind!!
a true racer!! a true human being!!!
God is getting ready for another Heaven 500 so it seems. Benny and Bobby are sure to be in the race. Say hello to Dale and Adam as well as Kenny, Davey, Alan, and Neil. Your voice and expertise will be missed deeply. My condolences to the entire Parsons family. TV race broadcasting will never be the same. I will miss you BP. R.I.P
Now I really feel like nascar will not be the same for as I have watch nascar as a quote true fan B.P. has been calling races I will miss his charm and good ole boy way he put things so all the new fans could relate . I got to see Benny do his victory lap at the ROCK in the fall of 2003 and that was the day Matt won his cup thanks BENNY.