Cotton Is As “Spry” As Ever - Getting to Know Cotton Spry

by Meghan Dillner

The 14th annual Summer Shootout is already underway at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and once again, we will be seeing a bunch of new faces a bunch of faces that fans have come to recognize.  George Edward Spry Sr. is a “legend” in the Masters division (Legends Cars) at the Summer Shootout.  Never heard of him?  That’s because you probably know him better as “Cotton” Spry.

“I was named after both my grandpas.  My momma’s daddy was George Washington Honeycutt.  My daddy’s daddy was Edward Alvin Spry, so they named me off of both of them,” he explains proudly.

George Edward Spry... better known as "Cotton" to most.

So how did he get the nickname Cotton?  “I used to have white hair when I was a little kid, but now I got no hair,” he laughs.

As one of the oldest drivers at the Shootout, Cotton is often around people that may have a little more hair on their heads.  Having been around the track for so long gives him the pressure of having to be a role model to many of these younger drivers.

“You don’t really want to do anything bad that they [younger drivers] would say, ‘Well, look what he is doing.  I can do that.’  You don’t want to do that because you want everybody to run good and clean.”

However much this affects Cotton’s actions on the track, it doesn’t make him feel like he is any different from a lot of the newer drivers in this series, whether those drivers are in the younger division or his (Masters are drivers 40 or older).

“I think I am just as competitive as they are; I don’t feel any different.”

Cotton truly is just as competitive, if not more competitive, than the other drivers.  As his #16 blue and gold legends car whizzes around the track in practice, most people are expecting a 20-year-old man behind the wheel.

“I was 53 February 11th,” he admits easily.  “I started [racing Legends Cars] probably in ‘96.  I’ve been around ‘bout 11 years now.”

Of course, as a man who loves to be around a racetrack, Cotton found a job close to Lowe’s.

“I run this landfill over behind the speedway.  I got something like 18 guys working for me,” says Cotton. 

Being so close to the speedway played a major role in Cotton’s racing career.

“Since I was working here at the speedway, Harvey Walters, that worked up here, told us that they were starting up this series and my boss man’s boss man wanted to get into one.  So, we actually bought one for him to run for a little while and his wife didn’t like it, so I started running it full time.” 

Fate played out in Cotton’s favor in this decision.  Still, he may not have jumped right into that Legends Car without a little experience first.  In fact, Cotton had started racing years back.

Most people know exactly which car is Cotton's. 

“Back whenever I was in high school, in ’72, I got into this little dirt car.  I had a ‘65 Mustang.  We ran the dirt series at Concord; the semi-modified six cylinders.  I ran it for about two years.  Then I had a son in ‘73 and that put the end to my racing for a while.”

That was about 34 years ago.  Since he started racing again just more than a decade ago, the difference between the two eras he has raced in is nearly 23 years.  His eyes have seen a lot over the years.  Still, he can only name one big difference from the time the Summer Shootout started to how it is now.

“The cars haven’t changed a whole lot, but the people have changed.  You know, it’s a different group of people.  There’s only a few of us left, the old timers, but there’s a lot of young new faces out there, which is good,” he remarks.

Cotton will be one of the first to come up and give out some helpful advice to younger drivers.

As the drivers of the Shootout multiply, so do the crew members and fans. Cotton has many people in the crowd to root for him, but he only has one dedicated man on his crew, his brother.

“I have two sisters that come in the stands and root for me and a couple nephews.  My brother is retired so he runs around with me and helps me with what he can,” he explains.

Cotton doesn’t just take care of his car, though.  He is also associated with Jamie Smith that drives a legends car as well.

“My sponsor has a daughter that runs in the semi-pros, plus we bought him a car, but he has only run maybe twice.  His daughter runs every weekend in the semi-pros.  She’s getting a little better at it, but she is having a big time and that is all that matters,” Cotton adds.

Most of Cotton’s life is somewhat related to racing.  Even his hobbies at home require him driving something.

“I have an old mule and a horse back at the house that I ride every now and then.  Plus, I just bought a four-wheeler.  Me and Curt Andrews, we beat on the track a lot so now we beat on the woods a lot.  It is a lot of fun,” he laughs.

And those are not the only things Cotton does for a fun time. He helps out at the track and is oftentimes asked to drive “The Enforcer,” a car in the Summer Shootout’s Crash Car division that makes sure the leader of the race doesn’t get too much of a lead.

“I work here at the speedway running the landfill, so I help them out all I can.  And Ryan (Zeck), the boy that usually runs it, he’s always got something to do.  So they asked me if I would fill in, and I enjoy doing it.  It’s just something else to do,” Cotton adds.

Cotton Spry sure has a lot on his plate, but that doesn’t stop him from having fun with everything he does.  He does everything with a whole heart and a smile on his face.  He cares and helps out everyone he can.  He has made the Summer Shootout and all of its associates, drivers, and crewmembers a second home and family for years.  He will continue to do so this year and hopefully for years to come!

LegendsNation's Meghan Dillner talks with Cotton.