How I Became a Phil Parsons Fan
My favorite NASCAR driver is Phil Parsons. He retired after driving in the inaugural Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway in 2001, and is now a commentator for the Craftsman Truck Series telecasts on SPEED.
I began following NASCAR in 1986, and Phil was an up-and-comer running a partial schedule. The first time around the schedule in 1986, and knowing very little about the sport, I was so impressed by all the different tracks. I liked Talladega especially. Phil finished 5th there in the spring race, a career-best. That probably planted the seed for me becoming a huge fan of his, although Dale Earnhardt was my "first" favorite driver, and always a guy I liked. On the return trip to 'dega in 1986, Phil was the first car a lap down on a restart, and by staying to close to the race leader on his outside as they were coming to green, he triggered a huge pileup taking out many contenders such as Darrell Waltrip and Harry Gant. (Incidentally, Gant was having a terrible season, but was having a wonderful race that afternoon.) I recall the TV interviews with some of the drivers eliminated by that wreck, and Phil received lots of blame. I didn't like that he caused a big crash, but it wasn't enough for me to write him off.
In 1987, Benny Parsons vacated the #55 Copenhagen car to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. News was hard to get back then. A few races into 1987, I realized Phil had officially taken over the #55 ride and would be running a full schedule. I was intrigued, I guess by a combination of things: I liked the fact that Phil would have a chance to show something in a decent car, he was Benny's kid brother, I liked the Jackson brothers (car owners), and the #55 was a cool-looking black car, sponsored by a product I don't endorse (Copenhagen snuff). So it began.
The next year, in 1988, Phil had a fine season, winning a big race at Talladega, and had a handful of top 5's and a bunch of top 10's, ending up 9th in Cup points. It was all downhill from there as far as his Cup career, for various reasons, but I always rooted for him anyway. He had several solid years in the Busch Series after that. I doubt I'll ever root for a driver the same way again.
I began following NASCAR in 1986, and Phil was an up-and-comer running a partial schedule. The first time around the schedule in 1986, and knowing very little about the sport, I was so impressed by all the different tracks. I liked Talladega especially. Phil finished 5th there in the spring race, a career-best. That probably planted the seed for me becoming a huge fan of his, although Dale Earnhardt was my "first" favorite driver, and always a guy I liked. On the return trip to 'dega in 1986, Phil was the first car a lap down on a restart, and by staying to close to the race leader on his outside as they were coming to green, he triggered a huge pileup taking out many contenders such as Darrell Waltrip and Harry Gant. (Incidentally, Gant was having a terrible season, but was having a wonderful race that afternoon.) I recall the TV interviews with some of the drivers eliminated by that wreck, and Phil received lots of blame. I didn't like that he caused a big crash, but it wasn't enough for me to write him off.
In 1987, Benny Parsons vacated the #55 Copenhagen car to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. News was hard to get back then. A few races into 1987, I realized Phil had officially taken over the #55 ride and would be running a full schedule. I was intrigued, I guess by a combination of things: I liked the fact that Phil would have a chance to show something in a decent car, he was Benny's kid brother, I liked the Jackson brothers (car owners), and the #55 was a cool-looking black car, sponsored by a product I don't endorse (Copenhagen snuff). So it began.
The next year, in 1988, Phil had a fine season, winning a big race at Talladega, and had a handful of top 5's and a bunch of top 10's, ending up 9th in Cup points. It was all downhill from there as far as his Cup career, for various reasons, but I always rooted for him anyway. He had several solid years in the Busch Series after that. I doubt I'll ever root for a driver the same way again.
posted by Jon at 10:47 PM
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