Stock Car History Online | Don Hunter Collection

BENNY’S BIG DAY

Benny Parsons went into the 1973 season finale at Rockingham poised to capture the Winston Cup championship, but an early-race crash very nearly derailed his title shot.

A wreck with Johnny Barnes on lap 13 completely ripped the right side off of his L.G. DeWitt-owned Chevrolet. Members of several teams pitched in to help return Parsons to the race, going so far as to scavenge parts and pieces off a car that had failed to qualify.

Parsons made it back onto the track with time to spare. He eventually completed 308 laps en route to sealing the crown by 67.15 points over runnerup Cale Yarborough.

That’s a young Bill “The Hat Man” Brodrick facing Parsons, wearing the dark short-sleeved shirt. Brodrick was a longtime Unocal 76 employee who became a well-known fixture in victory lane ceremonies.