John Amis / AP

Benny Parsons, a former taxi driver turned NASCAR champion, died Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. from complications stemming from his short battle with lung cancer. He was 65.

OPINION

By Mike Harris

updated 11:10 a.m. ET Jan. 17, 2007

The first time I saw Benny Parsons, he was sitting on a pile of tires at Riverside International Speedway, smiling and telling racing stories to a rapt audience of drivers, mechanics and reporters.

That day in January 1980 was also my first day covering NASCAR and I didn’t know more than a handful of people in that garage area.

I stood at the edge of the group gathered around Benny and listened as the former NASCAR champion and one of the sport’s most popular drivers told self-deprecating stories and had everybody laughing — with him, not at him.

As it came time to get into their cars for practice, the group broke up, but Benny took another moment to say hello to a stranger, one who apparently looked pretty lost.

“Hey, if you ever need anything, just let me know,” Benny said.

He meant it.

Over the next 26 years, I came to know Benny Parsons as a friend and truly admire him as a person. I never knew anybody who met the humble man from rural North Carolina without becoming his friend — at least in Benny’s mind.

And, by the way: Despite looking more like a friendly store clerk or school teacher, he was a pretty good driver, too, although you’d never know it from most of the stories he told.

In 1982, Benny became the first driver to qualify for a stock car race at more than 200 mph on the big oval at Talladega, Ala.

When Benny got out of the car and removed his helmet, he looked like he was in pain.

“I’ve got to tell you, that scared the you-know-what out of me,” Benny said, shaking his head. “I’m not sure it was worth it. That car was all over the track and I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.”

“Well, I think I could,” Benny said, his grimace suddenly turning into a smile. “I believe I could.”

In 1973, the former Detroit cab driver won his lone NASCAR championship. He did it despite winning only one of 28 races that season, and was often asked if consistency should be enough to win a title.

In 2003, Matt Kenseth also won only once — in 36 races — on the way to a championship. Benny said he felt for Kenseth, whose almost boring consistency spurred NASCAR boss Brian France to change the points system and install the Chase for the championship the next season.

“Sure, I’d have liked to win more race the year I won my championship,” Benny said. “And I know Matt would have liked more wins in 2003. But, you know what, we both won those championships with the rules that were in place at the time.

“That means we did our job the best we could do them. I know I never thought about giving back the trophy.”