Benny Parsons passes

Tuesday, January 16th 2007, 6:38 pm

By: News On 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Former race car driver Benny Parsons is dead. His son, Keith, says the former taxi driver turned NASCAR champion passed away today at the age of 65 after a losing battle against lung cancer.

Parsons was diagnosed with the disease in July after complaining that he was having difficulty breathing. He had intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments and was declared "cancer-free" in October.

But the aggressive treatment cost Parsons the use of his left lung, and he was hospitalized the day after Christmas when doctors found a blood clot in his right lung. He was transferred to intensive care shortly after his admission, and he remained there in an induced-coma.

Parsons name is among the elite group of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers.