North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame
To Induct Benny Parsons, Banjo Matthews

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 18, 2008) – NASCAR's 1973 Winston Cup champion and former TV analyst Benny Parsons and legendary car builder Edwin “Banjo” Matthews will be honored Oct. 8 during the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremonies at the Citizen's Center.

Parsons, who passed away in January 2007 due to complications from his battle with lung cancer, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Matthews, who died in 1996 of heart and respiratory disease, will be honored with the Snap-on Golden Wrench award.

“Both men made major contributions to the sport in three different areas,” Hall of Fame Chairman Don Miller said. “Both were successful drivers. Parsons then brought our beloved sport to the world via TV and radio, while Matthews worked diligently to build safer race cars that were extremely competitive.”

Born in Wilkes County, N.C., Parsons became a two-time ARCA champion before moving to NASCAR's premier series. In 1973, he earned the Winston Cup title in a manner that still serves as an example as to why one should never give up when pursuing a dream. On lap 13 of the October race at Rockingham, N.C., Parsons was involved in a wreck that tore the right side off his car. The roll cage  was ripped apart and the rear-end assembly was lying in the middle of the track. Several teams joined Parsons' in repairing the car and returning him to the event, thus giving the L.G. DeWitt-owned team the series championship.

After stepping from the driver's cockpit, Parsons joined ESPN and hosted a nationally syndicated radio talk show, “Fast Talk With Benny Parsons.” While with ESPN, he won an Emmy in 1996. A decade later, Parsons collected another Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series “NASCAR on NBC/TNT.”   

An Akron, Ohio, native, Matthews moved to Miami and competed in his first race at age 15. In 1952 he relocated to Asheville, N.C., and raced Modifieds. He competed in 50 races on NASCAR's Grand National [now Sprint Cup] circuit before becoming a full-time car owner in 1963.

It was Banjo's Performance Center, however, for which he gained notoriety. From 1974-1985, cars constructed by Matthews' won 262 of 362 Cup races, including all 30 in 1978, and four consecutive series championships, 1975-78. In many events, cars built by Matthews comprised more than half the field. In addition to building race cars, Matthews' firm also repaired them. His company didn't limit itself to Cup cars. It also constructed Limited Sportsman, Modifieds and IROC cars.

Tickets for this year's induction ceremonies may be purchased by contacting the NCAHOF (704) 663-5331. The NCAHOF is a not-for-profit organization that supports Stop Child Abuse Now and the annual Stocks for Tots fundraiser.
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Contact: Donna DeNardo, (704) 663-5331, Mooresville, N.C.

   
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