Benny Parsons

Benny Parsons won the 1973 Cup Series championship with a single victory that season, but the title was earned through a consistency and determination that epitomized the hardscrabble NASCAR of the 1970s. The Detroit native who grew up in North Carolina became one of the most beloved figures in the sport, both during his driving career and his celebrated second act as a television broadcaster. Parsons ran in an era of ferocious competition, battling the likes of Richard Petty, David Pearson, and Cale Yarborough on tracks where safety was an afterthought and survival was never guaranteed. His championship season was a triumph of perseverance, as Parsons overcame a devastating crash at Rockingham that nearly ended his title hopes. His crew taped the car back together, he returned to the track, and he clinched the title by sheer will. His 1975 Daytona 500 victory remains one of the signature moments of that decade, and across his career, Parsons proved himself capable of competing with the very best that NASCAR's golden era had to offer. After retiring from full-time competition, Parsons brought the same warmth and authenticity to the broadcast booth that had made him a fan favorite behind the wheel. His passing in 2007 left a void in the NASCAR community that has never truly been filled -- Benny Parsons was, in every sense, one of the good ones.

Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference