ROCKINGHAM — Benny Parsons would celebrate his 79th birthday next Sunday, and although the late NASCAR driver passed away in 2007, his legend lives on.
High above the home stretch bleachers at “The Rock,” the faded south-facing facade reads “Benny Parsons Grandstand.” NASCAR hasn’t raced in Rockingham in almost a decade, but the weight of the Hall of Famer’s name and his contributions to the sport are as vibrant as ever.
Former track owner Andy Hillenburg, who was “really good friends” with Parsons, approached the Parsons family shortly after purchasing the speedway in 2007. He wanted to “honor the past” by gracing The Rock with the newly named grandstands.
In part one of this two-part series, Parsons’ legacy on the sport and the local community will be told with the help of his son, Keith Parsons, who currently teaches at Richmond Senior High School and serves as the boys’ and girls’ golf coach.
From Humble Beginnings
Before he began racing at the local level in 1962, and beginning his professional career in 1965, the same year Rockingham Speedway opened, Parsons fought hard for everything he had.
Born in Wilkes County, N.C., Parsons was raised by his great grandmother when his parents relocated to Detroit when he was a boy. His childhood home, which was a mile down a dirt road, had no electricity or running water.
“My dad had a unique upbringing,” Keith Parsons said. “He stayed with his grandmother until high school graduation, and that upbringing stayed with him.
“It taught him to have this mentality of being thankful for what you have,” he continued. “And to work for what you want. I really think he embodied the American dream to achieve his goals and accomplishments.”
Relocating To Richmond County
After high school, Parsons reconnected with his parents in Detroit and got into competitive racing. He married his wife, Connie, and together they started a family while he began to have success on the racing circuit.
The Parsons had two sons, Kevin (54) and Keith (51), and when Keith was nine months old, the family moved back to near where Benny had grown up in March, 1970. The attraction was L.G. DeWitt and his racing team, which was based in Ellerbe.
DeWitt, who was a stock car owner from 1965 through 1980, operated L.G. DeWitt Racing. Over the span of 16 seasons, his team would employ racing legends such as John Sears (of Ellerbe), Henley Gray, LeeRoy Yarbrough and Joe Milikan, among others.
Parsons was brought on as a crew member and a driver in the spring of 1970, and spent a lot of time in the garage fixing cars and getting to know the sport.
During the third race of that same season, Parsons filled in for another driver when he wasn’t able to race. As the weeks went by, Parsons continued to fill in and after proving his ability on the track, he got his big break by becoming a starting driver.
Then just 28 years old, the 1970 season would be Parsons’ first on the NASCAR circuit, as he drove in 45 of 48 races that year. That kickstarted a 19-year career that saw him collect 21 wins, 199 top-five finishes, 283 top-10 finishes and a Winston Cup Series Championship in 1973.
“He Absolutely Loved Racing”
Keith Parsons grew up in the world of stock car racing, and admits that he didn’t know life any differently until he was older. But one thing that sticks with him today is his father’s love for the sport and the community he represented.
“My dad absolutely loved racing, and he just got it in his blood early on,” Keith Parsons said. “He was a guy like most in that era, and he built the gears and transmissions and spent time at the shop every day.”
Parsons’ insatiable passion for racing didn’t stop at the checker flag. He was also known for his kind-hearted spirit and willingness to help others when he could. One of his most well-known contributions to Richmond County was his annual Christmas party, which he started in the mid 70s.
“Every Christmas he would put together this party for kids who may otherwise not get a Christmas,” Keith remembered. “He did it for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade in Ellerbe, which he did through 1990.
“It was a big party, and he made sure everyone had shoes and shirts, and the racing sponsors came and helped,” he added. “There was a band that sang Christmas carols, too.”
Keith Parsons noted that people still approach him decades later and tell him the impact the Christmas party had on them. He called it one of his father’s “biggest legacies” and said he always wanted to help others when he could.
A Special Moment In Rockingham
Undoubtedly Parsons’ most successful NASCAR season came in his fourth year when he won the Winston Cup Series Championship in 1973. That year he competed in all 28 races, collected a win at Bristol and tacked on 15 top-five finishes.
His average finish was right around 10th place in each race, and edged Cale Yarbrough by 67.15 points in the final standings. Although Yarbrough led 3,167 laps that season to Parsons’ 374, the DeWitt Racing young gun overcame some late-season theatrics to clinch the title at Rockingham Speedway.
“My dad always enjoyed talking about his championship, especially when they used a unique point system that year,” Keith Parsons shared. “Points were given for what place you finished plus the number of laps you ran. His car was very sturdy that year.
“He continued to click off top-five finishes and during the last race (at Rockingham) he was leading,” he continued. “Back then you didn’t know if you were going to clinch the championship, so every lap mattered.”
However, early in the race another driver spun out and Parsons saw extensive damage done to the right side of his orange No. 72 Russell Bennett Chevrolet. It was a moment that saw his potential championship-winning season put in jeopardy.
“His crew didn’t know if he’d be able to finish the race,” Keith said. “There was a lot of damage done to the roll cage. But they worked on the car for about 90 minutes and used parts off a non-qualifying car in the garage.
“I remember hearing about crew guys from other teams coming to help,” he added. “It was a big deal for a small team like that to be an underdog and compete for a championship. My dad got back out on the track and finished the race. Winning it in Rockingham was a special moment.”
Parsons managed to finish the American 500 in 28th place in a field of 43 drivers to clinch his lone NASCAR championship title.
The Richmond Observer will publish the second part of the Benny Parsons feature in Tuesday’s edition, which will highlight other moments on the track and his broadcasting career.
