DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR lost its second champion in less than two weeks when Benny Parsons died Tuesday. He was 65.
Parsons entered the Intensive Care Unit of the Carolinas Medial Center in Charlotte on Dec. 26 due to complications stemming from his battle with lung cancer.
Parsons, the 1973 Winston Cup champion, learned six months ago that he had cancer. He continued to work as a color analyst for NBC after learning about his condition, but missed a couple of races while undergoing treatment.
His death comes only nine days after NASCAR driver Bobby Hamilton, the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series champion, succumbed to cancer.
This is a horrible off-season. Two greats gone in a little over a week.
