Delma Cowart, the colorful independent driver known for his valiant low-budget attempts to qualify for the Daytona 500, has died. He was 80.
“Somebody asked me about my career once,” Cowart said in a 1998 interview with the Associated Press. “I told him I never won a race, but I never lost a party.”
That phrase became Cowart’s calling card in a NASCAR Cup Series career that spanned 17 years. Cowart failed to qualify or withdrew from more races (61) than he appeared in (21), often fielding car No. 0 in his attempts. “It’s neither negative or positive,” he once said.
His best finish was 17th at Daytona International Speedway in the summer of 1982. Cowart last attempted to make the Daytona 500 field in 1997, crashing in the 125-mile qualifying race and taking contender Geoff Bodine out with him as he was being lapped. He made the field for The Great American Race four times.
— NASCAR.com —
Original post: Former NASCAR Cup Series driver Delma Cowart has passed away. His daughter Denise shared the news on Twitter.
— Delma'sDaughter (@DelmaSdaughter) November 10, 2021