The Ultimate NASCAR Collectible: An Autographed Cowl

As a NASCAR fan, I was lucky enough to travel to Charlotte several years in a row for the Coca-Cola 600 race. My best friend and I spent a week in the city, visiting the race shops, attending autograph signings and having the time of our lives. On one trip, we visited the race shop for RCR, which had a few different race used items for sale. Every time we see something like that, my friends tease me that I'm building my own race car because I cannot leave anything behind.

Finding the Cowl

When I saw the cowl sitting on the shelf, I knew that I had to have it. Forget the fact that I had no idea what it was or what I would ever use it for. There was something about that shiny black metal that made me want to take it home with me. I paid my $10 and dragged it out to the car, already full of NASCAR merchandise.

Getting my First Autograph

That same night, we drove direct from the race shop to a meet and greet with Jamie McMurray. Multiple people stopped me in line, asking what the piece was. As I handed it over to Mr. McMurray, he signed it and I confessed that I did not know what it was. Not only did he fully explain where it goes and how it works, but he also pointed out its exact location on a car.

Meeting Jamie McMurray Again

The next day, we found ourselves at an autograph signing with multiple NASCAR drivers. I had several sign the cowl, including Matt Kenseth and Ricky Stenhouse Junior. Next in line was Jamie McMurray again. I had him sign a diecast car, but he saw the cowl and remembered us from the night before. He took the cowl, scrawled the name of it across his signature and passed it back with a smile.

Miss Sprint Cup Weighs In

Miss Sprint Cup is the name given to several women that work for NASCAR. They attend meet and greets, get to visit the winning drivers in Victory Circle and do dozens of other activities. Miss Sprint Cup that year came up to use after seeing me carrying the cowl and started a conversation. Monica was incredibly nice and we had such a good time talking that she sought us out at multiple events throughout the week.

Getting Other Autographs

I also had the chance to meet Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick. When I told them where I found the cowl, they tried to figure out what car it came from. Harvick decided that since it looked bent and wrecked, it must belong to one of Bowyer's cars. I also had Kurt Busch sign the cowl at a later date.

The cowl is the ultimate piece of memorabilia for me because of the stories attached to it. I know that someday that piece will find itself covered in more signatures and I will have a story for each and every one.