One of Cotton Owens' Final Smiles Reserved for David Pearson & Bud Moore After His HOF Election

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

I enjoyed this column in today's Charlotte newspaper by Scott Fowler recalling the smile that came across the face of Cotton Owens when he learned he would be joining his friends at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. I was privileged to have seen Cotton's final win, on the Richmond Fairgrounds half-mile dirt layout in September 1964 when he came out of retirement to show his driver, David Pearson how to make smooth pit stops.

Hall election puts smile on Cotton Owens face
By Scott Fowler
sfowler@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Wednesday, Feb. 06, 2013

Cotton Owens in an Observer file photo.

By the time car owner and driver Cotton Owens was voted into NASCARs Hall of Fame during May 2012, a series of strokes had left him unable to speak.

Owens watched the voting results on television with his family from his home in Spartanburg. We had all been disappointed before, Don Owens, Cottons son, said during an interview. We didnt know what to expect. But when Brian France announced that he had gotten in, he was visibly happy. That was the first time I had seen him smile in a long, long time.

That night, the other two men with Spartanburg roots already in NASCARs Hall Bud Moore and David Pearson came to celebrate with Owens. That meant a lot to Owens, who made his biggest mark in stock-car racings top level as a do-it-yourself owner and mechanic back in the days when car owners had grime under their fingernails.

That day last May was one of the last great moments of Owens life.

He couldnt talk, said Moore, a close friend who ate lunch almost every day with Owens at a Spartanburg diner from 2000 to 2012. But he was grinning from ear to ear.

Owens died two weeks later on June 7, at age 88, from complications from cancer and his strokes. His wife, Dot a major part of the family racing business and always her husbands biggest cheerleader already had passed away. The two were married 66 years; their deaths were separated by only two months. The rest of the Owens family will celebrate this week in Charlotte, as Owens officially is enshrined Friday in NASCARs fourth Hall of Fame class along with Buck Baker, Herb Thomas, Leonard Wood and Rusty Wallace.

Look up the definition of nice man in the dictionary and you will see Cotton Owens picture, said Buddy Baker, one of more than 20 drivers who drove for Owens. And he could build every single part of a race car himself. So everyone who worked for him would walk through fire for him.

Although Owens first name was Everett, no one called him that. Born in 1924 in Union, S.C., as a child he had blond hair so light it was almost white. Someone called him Cotton and the nickname stuck so thoroughly that many of his friends didnt know his real name.

He and Moore went to high school together in Spartanburg Moore was one year ahead of Owens in school. We ran around some and raced some against each other before World War II, Moore said.

Owens served in the Navy, got out and became known as the King of the Modifieds, winning races as a driver on short dirt tracks all around the Carolinas.

Those races left red clay spattered all over the cars. And Owens had a steadfast rule, both as a driver and later as an owner.

It didnt matter what time you got home after a race, said Don, who not only was Owens son but also worked for his father for decades in the familys race shop. Midnight, 2 a.m., Owens' best season as a driver in NASCARs top series was in 1959, when he finished a close second to Lee Petty in the standings. By age 38 he had mostly retired as a driver, but based a successful race team out of his Spartanburg shop. In 1966, he fielded cars for Pearson, also of Spartanburg, and won the season title in what now is NASCARs Sprint Cup Series. Owens never got rich racing, but he made ends meet.

And when you do something you love to do and can make a living, his son Don said, thats about as good as it gets.

Cotton Owens also prepared cars for drivers such as Junior Johnson, Fireball Roberts, Ralph Earnhardt and Buddy Baker, who won the 1970 Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C., in a Dodge in what Owens considered one of his biggest victories as an owner.

It was in that race that Owens gentlemanly demeanor faded a little. Said Baker: Like all smart-aleck kids, I thought I couldnt do anything wrong. I had a huge lead, like around five laps. So to show off a little, I came off the fourth turn, cut it sideways and smoked all four tires. Cotton told me right after that: If you wreck this car with that kind of lead, Ill kill you.

Later in his life, Owens drew immense pleasure in fielding cars for three grandsons, all of whom raced during their youth. He and his family also ran a big auto salvage yard, which remains in operation in Spartanburg.

Always, Owens work ethic was unimpeachable. Said Moore of Owens: He done the work like it was supposed to be done.

And even though Owens failing health left him speechless the day he got elected to NASCARs Hall of Fame, his work on the track spoke loudly for decades and still does.
Scott Fowler: sfowler@charlotteobserver.com; Twitter: @Scott_Fowler

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/02/06/3837814/hall-election-puts-smile-on-cotton.html#storylink=cpy




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
11 years ago
4,073 posts

The last 2-3 years, NASCAR Media Group really did a nice job with one hour presentations on each inductee that aired on Speed. Unless I've missed it, I haven't seen anything for any of this year's class. A casualty of NMG shutting down and Speed soon going out of biz I suppose in favor of its successor Fox Sports 1. The only thing I've seen in TV listings is a 1-hour intro for the 5 inductees that will air Fri night immediately before the induction ceremony broadcast.




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

Yes, they have been doing them. I caught the pieces on Leonard Wood and Buck Baker and part of the Rusty piece last week.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Charles Ray Stocks
@charles-ray-stocks
11 years ago
222 posts

really nice peice on cotton he was really a great car builder driver and owner even saw an ex owens dodge race at wilson nc driven by bill bridgers

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

I had forgotten that name, Charles. Thanks.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

Bill Bridgers towing into the Wake County Speedway quarter-mile - Raleigh - 1973 - as posted on Local Race Chat by racin_girl_22:




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
11 years ago
4,073 posts

Good to know. Somehow I've missed them then. Will be scouring TV listings looking for reruns.




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
Randy Myers2
@randy-myers2
11 years ago
219 posts

I had the pleasure of being at the induction ceremonies last night courtesy of SUNOCO and Hank Thomas Performance. The honor, respect and admiration in thar room was overwhelming. I got to see old friends and heros from my youth. Donnie Owens, my brother Gary and I played with toy cars on the beach in front of the Dunes Court while daddy and Cotton were at the track. So glad I got tosee Cotton and Dot at Occoneechee the last time they were there. Got to see and speak to "The King", Dale Inman, Bobby & Donnie, Ned and Glenn Jarrett, Glen, Leonard and DeLano and several more. Even "Choc" was there. Thanks Hank for the great night. I think every inductee or the person accepting their the ring thanked the nominating committe and acknowledged in some way the many other deserving heros not yetin the hall. Some very moving acceptance speeches and sharing of memories.

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

Randy, so glad you got to attend. I saw a lot of familiar faces during the telecast... most with gray hair and extra weight like me.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Charles Ray Stocks
@charles-ray-stocks
11 years ago
222 posts

my hat is off to all the inducties and thanks dave for the photo of bill bridgers was that chevelle owned by robert radford

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

Bill, I don't know who owned that Chevelle Bill was driving in the earlier photo. I remember Robert Radford having cars for Fuzzy Ferrell and Eddie Cooke. Robert blueprinted a motor for us and we kinda felt like we got taken to the cleaners. I used to go by Robert Radford's garage on a shortcut I'd take from Wilson to Kenly.

Fuzzy Ferrell in Robert Radford's Chevy II @ Wake County - Racin_girl_22 photo from Local Race Chat

Fuzzy Ferrell in Robert Radford Chevelle @ Wilson- Tim Hamm Photo from this site

Eddie Cooke with Robert Radfort Chevy II at Wilson- Tim Hamm photo from this site

Bill Bridgers @ Wilson Co. Speedway 1976 - Tim Hamm Photo from this site - Car Owner??




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Charles Ray Stocks
@charles-ray-stocks
11 years ago
222 posts

dave this car was purchased from wallace i think bill bridgers and wait best bought it together

Charles Ray Stocks
@charles-ray-stocks
11 years ago
222 posts

this car was purchased from wallace smith from durham nc i think bill bridgers and wait best co owned this car

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

Thanks, Charles - and sorry for calling you "Bill" above., lol!




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
11 years ago
9,137 posts

I see Wallace has several #99 photos posted on our sirte at this link, Charles:

http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=3onkvt0cpsn3o




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Charles Ray Stocks
@charles-ray-stocks
11 years ago
222 posts

no problem dave thanks for the photos you posted

Randy Myers2
@randy-myers2
11 years ago
219 posts

I can certainly releat to that!