IN MEMORY OF BENNY

Truly one of the good guys of the sport, Benny Parsons was quick with a quip and even quicker with a grin. Parsons, the 1973 Winston Cup champion, had a way of making strangers feel like long-lost friends. That rare quality helped build a loyal following as he made the transition from driver to broadcaster. A native of Wilkes County, N.C., Parsons passed away Jan. 16, 2007. The racing community hasn't been the same since.