Benny Parsons, NBC’s analyst, said he knew nothing about the network’s decision to bow out of NASCAR coverage until he read it in the newspaper. Parsons then called his bosses, who confirmed that the network had pulled out of the bidding process for the contract that begins in 2007. “They just weren’t prepared to pay the kind of money NASCAR wanted,” said Parsons, a former champion driver. “I’ll be 65 when this contract ends in 14 months,” he added. “I don’t think it’s as important for me as it is for some of the younger guys on our broadcasts. They’ll be scrambling.”(Gaston Gazette)