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Benny Parsons Behind the Wheel By L.M. Burke
October 22, 2002
USA Today published a short note last Friday that Benny Parsons would drive the NBC No Boundaries car during the race preview done in the “Wally’s World” segment each week. Neither NBC nor USA Today made any mention about why Benny would be driving the car. On Sunday, NBC rolled the ranting music to “Wally’s World, Wally’s World” and then cut to Benny Parsons in white T-shirt and pants with his open-faced helmet on, ready to go. Wisely, Benny asked them to cut the camera as he wedged into the driver’s seat. You’ve got to love deliberate static! The 1973 Winston Cup Series Champion gleefully showed us the way around Martinsville Speedway in preparation for the Old Dominion 500 race broadcast. Seeing BP behind the wheel of a stock car again brought back some memories of the roots of this ever-growing sport. No firesuit. No driving shoes – hightop, lowtop, speedfit, or otherwise. No HANS, nor Hutchens Device. Just a former taxi cab driver turned professional racecar driver, who also happened to be the first driver ever to qualify at over 200 mph. His one concession (the gloves) to today’s safety-conscious sport was quickly tossed out the window net on the backstretch. Talk about debris on the racetrack! Sunday’s ride recalled a time before the really big, UPS-league, corporate dollars came into NASCAR Winston Cup racing. Listening to the joy in Benny’s voice as he felt that car going around the infamous paperclip-shaped oval recalled a simpler time when drivers were drivers, not GQ, People, or Playgirl celebrities. With the waving of the black flag, Benny reported to the NASCAR official and was quickly sidelined for lack of the proper safety equipment. No, BP, they didn’t have those rules 40 years ago. Might we see a BP car next year – perhaps something sponsored by Red Lobster? But thanks, Benny, for a look back at where we came from – for the contrast to the supercharged spectacle of yesterday’s race was like night and day. And the Golden Benny goes to … BP for reminding us of those simpler times.
Other articles by L.M. Burke illnesses through research and teatment
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