Driver Series: S02E019 – Cameron Bowen Invites Us Into His Life For A Special Look Around
Cameron Bowan
Virginia Beach, VA
August 25, 1997 (18)
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Hometrack: Langley Speedway
Education: Princess Anne High (Sr.)
Occupation: Mechanic @ Complete Automotive
Sponsors: South Norfolk Trucking, Cameron Chemicals, Avalon Cleaners, Anderson Hauling, and a special thanks to Precision Performance Motorsports.
2012 marked the beginning of this journey for Cameron Bowen, a journey who’s finish line is somewhere in the ranks of the Cup Series garage. Bowen’s first adventure behind the wheel of a Bandolero was at Langley Speedway. Winning Rookie of the Year honors and finished third in points his first year out. Bowen would bring home a win in his Bando the following year during the INEX qualifier along with plenty of top three finishes. “I would of won the championship,” Bowen said during our interview. “Had car issues and couldn’t race the last race so we ended up finishing third again.” Bowen has also competed up towards the front at other tracks in the region like Southern National & Orange County.
After that the Bowens set their eyes on Late Model Stock racing as that was Cameron’s dream after all – stock car racing. “My Dad went down to North Carolina and bought an old Late Model,” Bowen said. “We practiced it for a couple months and figured out we didn’t know much at all about Late Models and the car was very outdated.” They met local Xfinity team owner Rick Gdovic during an open practice one night and from then on he at the PPM team has helped Cameron on his Rookie of the Year contending season. “We’ve have solid finishes all year and a great car,” Bowen expressed. “I’d also like to thank Shawn Ballouzzo as he’s been one of my mentors ever since Bando’s!”
Bowen talked more about the difficulties from jumping right from a Bando to a Late Model citing mostly car control and learning how to drive the car in general. “A Bando, especially at Langley, are just like the cup cars at Daytona,” says Bowen. “You just hold the gas and go, no letting off. Driving a Late Model has to be one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. Every straightway mashing the throttle and then getting on the brake to make sure you keep it down on the line every lap is an amazing feeling, I’m just hoping to master it one day like the greats – Greg Edwards, Shawn Ballouzzo, Mark Wertz , Casey Wyatt, etc – of Langley do!”