Known as "King of the Modifieds" in the early 1950s, Cotton Owens went on to win nine NASCAR Grand National races, and in 1959, Owens finished runner-up for the national championship to Lee Petty. After retiring as a driver, he continued in NASCAR as a car owner, winning 40 races and the national championship with David Pearson as his driver. From 1967 to 1970, Owens prepared Dodges for Buddy Baker, winning the Southern 500 at Darlington in 1970 and within 48 hours he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.