Everett "Cotton" Owens, 2007 November 19

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Identifier: OH-OW0518

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Everett “Cotton” Owens oral history interview, 2007 November 19

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Scope and Contents

Everett "Cotton" Owens recalls his thirty-year career as a stock car racing driver, team owner, and mechanic. Mr. Owens got his start in racing during the 1940s by working on cars with friends and family members. He began driving with more regularity in the 1950s. He found success in NASCAR's Modified Series racing with team owner Joe Rump, and later in the Grand National division. Mr. Owens also describes his years as a team owner and his relationship with driver David Pearson. Other topics include the accident that left Mr. Owens with double vision, his memories of racing on the Daytona Beach course and in the first Southern 500 at Darlington, and the other drivers Mr. Owens mentored and advised during his career.

Dates

Creation: 2007 November 19

Conditions Governing Access

30 of 31 oral history interviews are in the digital repository. Original audiovisual materials closed to patron use.

Biographical Note

Cotton Owens was an 83-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place at his home in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was born in Union, South Carolina in 1924. He served in the United States Navy during the Second World War and was employed as a mechanic, race car driver, and team owner.