COLUMBIA, S.C. -- NASCAR pioneer Cotton Owens died Thursday morning. The Hall of Famer who made his mark as a driver and owner was 88.

Kimberly Meesters of the NASCAR Hall of Fame confirmed Owens passing through his family. Meesters said Owens died peacefully. The Owens family thanked fans for their well wishes, but requested privacy in this difficult time.

Owens, who lived in Spartanburg, was part of the Hall's class of 2013 that was announced two weeks ago in Charlotte. He'll be inducted in February along with Rusty Wallace, Leonard Wood and the late Buck Baker and Herb Thomas.