Even a three minute story in a local newscast, (which is extremely long) is short-changing the man. I have spent today talking to other co-workers who knew Benny and actually worked with him back when he was our NASCAR insider back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, and reflecting on my own interactions with a man who was a great example of how anyone in the public eye should conduct himself at all times.

I personally met and interacted with Benny many times in my five years here in Charlotte. He never worked with me directly but remembered my name and always asked me how things were going at the station. When I would see him at Lowe’s Motor Speedway during race weeks, I would say hello thinking he wouldn’t remember me from Adam, and he would always crack a big smile and say “Ira, how are you?” He always showed genuine interest and made you feel like you were someone he was interested in taking some time to talk to.

Tom Butler used to be our sports photographer here and tells great stories about working at the track with Benny. Tom liked to refer to Benny as “The Pope of NASCAR” because walking around the garage area with BP was like being escorted by NASCAR royalty. Tom recalls one time covering qualifying for the all-star race in Charlotte when it used to be called The Winston. Each driver would complete two laps including a pit stop for qualifying. Tom was with Benny and when it came time for the late Dale Earnhardt to qualify, Benny went right up to Dale’s crew chief Larry McReynolds and said “Larry Mac, let my photographer up there on the pit box with you to get some shots,” and sure enough, there was Tom on top of the Intimidators war wagon shooting video of the famed #3.

It was the kind of access not even given to the networks covering the race at the time. Tom also tells of the first time Dale Jr. qualified for a cup race at LMS, and afterwards there was the usual horde of reporters trying to talk to Junior, and Benny told Tom “I’m not getting in that mess.” Tom and Benny waited until the interviews had finished and the crowd dispersed. Junior began his sprint to escape to his hauler when Benny shouted out in his big deep voice, “Junior!” Tom says young Dale stopped in his tracks and said “yes sir Mr. Parsons?” So, there was Tom and Benny getting a coveted one-on-one with Junior, who is saying yes sir, no sir to Benny the whole time. That’s the kind of respect that no member of the media is ever shown by any famous athlete, but it’s the kind of respect that Benny Parsons was always shown by everyone in the NASCAR community.

I have tried to explain to people today that trying to tell this story is about so much more than just a former Winston Cup Champion and NASCAR driver who passed away, and he was all those things, but he was even more of a great person and friend to anyone who knew him at all. You’ll be missed, dearly, Benny Parsons.

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