Cotton Owens Memories

***Order of the Palmetto***

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Anyone who missed Cotton Owens Day truley missed a once in a life time event. It was a virtual who's who of Nascar legends all offering tribute to the "King of the Modifieds", Cotton Owens. The biggest knews came from our Governor, Mark Sanford. Yes! The Governor even came. His purpose? He made a special visit to present Cotton with South Carolina's highest award, The Order of The Palmetto. Wow!!! It don't get no better than that!!!!! There was also Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnett.

I can't remember everybody but I will try. There was:

David Pearson

Bud Moore

Rex White

Ned Jarrett

Dick Hutcherson

Glen Wood

Junie Dunlevie (not sure about spelling)

Dick Widdington (not sure about last name)

Junior Johnson

Charlie Glotzbach

plus a few others. I truley apoligize for not remembering. I should have taken notes. Radio personality, Bill Drake, emceed along with Willis Smith. There were a bunch of show cars on display.

* Memories *

Lord! Where to start? What have I forgotten? I told his grandson, Kyle, that his grandfather has forgotten more about building race cars than any of the so-called car builders of today will ever learn. Cotton Owens truely understood mechanical engineering. He had (and still has) that eye for determining what will work and what won't, what will win and what won't.

Around 1963, Cotton Owens signed a deal with Chrysler Corporation to begin building Grand National Dodges. His driver, a new up and coming driver named David Pearson. They advertised a big grand opening when the shop was finished and had a few cars built for the visitors to see. By normal race shop standards of the time, it was humongous. I went and was just spell-bound as any 15 year old from South Carolina would be. God, those cars were beautiful.

I haven't had the opportunity to visit Cotton or David in the last few years and need to get out and see them both. There is a free opportunity for all of us to see these guys, and a lot more, September 16th. That day is designated "Cotton Owens Day" here in Spartanburg and is long overdue. There will be a big shindig at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium starting at 4pm. Please come and visit with one of the true pioneers of the early days of Nascar.


Oh! You just gotta visit Cotton's website at www.cottonowens.com. There are tons of pics and articles covering the history of the famed Cotton Owens Garage.

More Cotton tid bits to come.