the smaller races when time permitted. In addition to his recordings and performances, Robbins was an avid race car driver, competing in 35 career NASCAR races with 6 Top Ten finishes, including the 1973 Firecracker 400. In 1967, Robbins played himself in the car racing film Hell on Wheels. Robbins was partial to Dodges, and owned and raced Dodge Chargers and later a 1978 Dodge Magnum in the famous purple and Day-Glo yellow paint scheme. Car owner summary Cotton was fortunate to have some of the biggest names in the sport drive his cars over the years. Drivers for Cotton Owens included many legends: David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Pete Hamilton, Marty Robbins, Ralph Earnhardt, Bobby Isaac, Junior Johnson, Benny Parsons, Fireball Roberts, Mario Andretti, Charlie Glotzbach, and Al Unser. In all, a total of 25 drivers climbed behind the wheel of Owens' cars in 291 races, earning 32 victories and 29 pole positions. In total, as a car owner and as a driver, Owens' career statistics include 41 wins and 38 poles in 487 races. Death Seven years after being diagnosed with lung cancer, Owens died on June 7, 2012, at the age of 88, just a few weeks after it was announced he would be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame's 2013 class. Awards Announced as a member of the 2013 Inductee Class at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on May 23, 2012. Inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. Owens was announced as a 2008 inductee in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Historic Speedway Group - Occoneechee-Orange Speedway (Hillsborough, NC) Hall of Fame Inductee (2008 ). In 1970, Owens was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington Speedway. Cotton Owens was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers during NASCAR's 50th Anniversary celebration in 1998. Recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina, created in 1971 to recognize lifetime achievement and service to the State of South Carolina. September 16, 2006 Member Darlington Records Club Member NASCAR Mechanics Hall of Fame Member NASCAR Legends Pioneer of Racing Award, Living Legends of Auto Racing, February 15, 2006 Presented with the Smokey Yunick Award for “Lifetime Achievement in Auto Racing” on May 28, 2000 Honored by the Vance County Tourism Dept., Henderson, NC with the “East Coast Drag Times