Jim Parsley

James Roger Parsley (May 4, 1927 – January 30, 2014) was an American stock car racing driver. Born in Wheaton, Maryland, he competed in the NASCAR Grand National Series in his career, earning five top-ten finishes in eleven races.[1]

Jim Parsley
Parsley in 2011
Born(1927-05-04)May 4, 1927
Wheaton, Maryland, U.S.
DiedJanuary 30, 2014(2014-01-30) (aged 86)
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathAlzheimer's disease
NASCAR Cup Series career
11 races run over 2 years
Best finish30th (1958)
First race1958 Race No. 13 (Old Dominion)
Last race1959 Race No. 11 (Reading)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 5 0
NASCAR Convertible Division career
1 race run over 1 year
First race1959 Race No. 5 (Marlboro)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Career

Parsley's NASCAR debut came in 1958, when he finished 30th in points.[2] and had four top ten finishes[3] He debuted at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Virginia where he finished 15th.[4] He would struggle in his next three starts but hit his stride late in the year, earning three straight top-tens and four top-tens overall: 6th place at Richmond International Speedway and at Rochester, 8th place at New Bradford, and 9th place at Reading Fairgrounds.[5] Parsley's final finish came in 1959, when he competed at Reading again where he finished eighth. Parsley also competed in a NASCAR Convertible Division event at Marlboro Motor Raceway in Upper Marlboro, Maryland,[6] and two USAC/ARCO Stock Car races at Willimas Grove Speedway in Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania.

Parsley's final attempt at competition was on 13 February 1960 when he entered a 1957 Chevy in the 500 mile Modified Sportsman Event at Daytona International Speedway (now notorious for having the largest crash in NASCAR history).[7] While nearing the conclusion of lap 1, Dick Foley's car slid sideways through the final turn. He was able to straighten out and continue the race but some thirty plus cars stacked up behind him. Over 20 cars were eliminated, including Parsley.[8]

Personal life

Jim Parsley was one of six children born to Rodger and Elysie (Nichols) Parsley in Layhill, Maryland.[9] After high school he went to work for the U.S. Post Office and was named to the team of five who were the first to experiment with the newly invented 5 digit zip code machine. He joined the U.S. Army in 1945 and served in World War II where he was stationed in Paris as a message center clerk. During the war he received an Army of Occupation Medal and World War II Victory Medal.[9]

Jim Parsley and daughter Becky circa 1969

Becoming an entrepreneur, Parsley operated several businesses in and around College Park, Maryland.[9]

Following his racing career, Parsley retired to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where he operated Causeway Marina.[9] He died on January 30, 2014 after a brief illness with Alzheimer's.[9]

Motorsports career results

References
  1. "The NASCAR Driver Averages Database". Driveraverages.com. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  2. Fielden, Gregory L. (2005) "NASCAR Chronicle"
  3. Fielden, Gregory L. (Dec, 1987) Forty Years of Stock Car Racing: The Beginning
  4. Darren Fauth. "#20 Kim Campbell complete NASCAR career statistics". Fantasyracingcheatsheet.com. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  5. "Petty, Baker. Johnson Top Field in NASCAR Race". Reading Eagle, 15 June 1958.
  6. "Jim Parsley - NASCAR Convertible Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  7. Fielden, Gregory L. (Oct, 1988) Forty Years of Stock Car Racing: The Super Speedway Book, 1959-1964
  8. "37 Cars Crash at Daytona: Eight Drivers Are Injured". Reading Eagle. Reading, PA. February 14, 1960. p. 21. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  9. Jim Parsley obituary. Daytona Beach, FL: The Daytona Beach News-Journal. January 31, 2014. Accessed 2014-03-25.
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