Benny Parsons reveals he has lung cancer
NASCAR.COM
July 27, 2006
05:37 PM EDT (21:37 GMT)
Benny Parsons is all about winning. He's the 1973 NASCAR champion; a Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 winner; and, in recent years, has emerged as one of NASCAR's leading television and radio commentators.
Now, Parsons is calling upon that winning attitude as he battles lung cancer.
Parsons, 65, had experienced difficulty breathing and, after consulting with physicians, was informed by his family doctor, Dr. Scott Moss of Charlotte, that he has the disease. His treatment regimen starts immediately.
"Needless to say this was a huge shock," Parsons said. "I've got a great deal of faith in all of my physicians, including Dr. Steven Limenpani, who treated NASCAR car owner Rick Hendrick during his battle with leukemia. I'm determined to pull through this and I appreciate everyone's concerns and prayers during this time.
"The first thing everyone asks me is, 'Are you a smoker?' The answer is that I smoked my last cigarette way back in 1978 and since then I've hated being around smoking. I don't even allow anyone in my foursome to smoke on the golf course."
Parsons is an analyst on NBC and TNT's coverage of Nextel Cup racing and hosts Fast Talk with Benny Parsons on the Performance Racing Network. He plans to continue his duties with NBC/TNT and PRN throughout his treatment.
"Everyone I work with has been gracious and accommodating," Parsons said. "I plan to keep on talking about racing for as long as I can."
NBC/TNT also issued a statement supporting Parsons in his efforts to overcome the disease.
"Benny is an important part of our television families. We respect his privacy and will support him in any way we can in his efforts to get well."
Parsons said he plans to work the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Aug. 6.
"One of Benny's greatest qualities is how unconditionally supportive he is to the racing community," said Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports. "Now it's our turn to provide that support to him. I ask all of his friends and fans to put him in their prayers tonight."
Parsons, chosen as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in 1998, made 526 starts from 1964 until his 1988 retirement. He won 21 races, including the 1975 Daytona 500, and 20 poles.
He also had 283 top 10 finishes, led at least one lap in 192 races and finished no lower than fifth in the points from 1972 to 1980 while earning more than $4 million.
Parsons was born in Ellerbe, N.C., but spent time in Detroit, where he worked at a gas station and a cab company owned by his father. When he first started racing, he often listed "taxicab driver" as his occupation on entry forms.
He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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