Benny Parsons won the 1973 Winston Cup championship with a stunning late-season comeback and 21 career Cup victories. After hanging up his helmet, he became one of television's most popular analysts, nicknamed 'The Professor' for his ability to explain the sport's complexities to millions of viewers.
Parsons was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006 and died in early 2007 at 65. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017, remembered as a champion driver and the friendly voice that taught America how racing works.
At a Glance
- Born: July 12, 1941, Wilkesboro, North Carolina
- Died: January 16, 2007, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Age: 65
- Cause of death: Complications from lung cancer treatment
Final Resting Place
Parsons family burial site, Parsonsville, North Carolina.
Photo: C. Fairchild via Find a Grave
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Grave photo: Photo: C. Fairchild via Find a Grave.