15-year-old pursues dream of driving in NASCAR

On most days, 15-year-old Anderson Bowen is studying as a freshman at Greater Atlanta Christian School. But if you want to find him on the weekends, you have to go to the racetrack.

"It's almost like a drug. Once you get it in your system, you can't get enough of it," said Bowen.

Bowen, who isn't old enough to have a driver's license, is a race car driver. As the main driver of Anderson Bowen Racing, he races in the Automobile Racing Club of America or ARCA. It's like the minor leagues for NASCAR.

He says he grew up riding dirt bikes and loving motors. But it was a fateful trip with his dad to the racetrack that started it all.

"My dad took me to the racetrack up by our house, and ever since we went there I had my mind set on what I wanted to do when I grew up," Bowen said.

He started on go-carts and moved on to Bandolero and Legend cars. Now, he races pro-late and super late model cars as number 29.

"You really don't feel like you're going that fast. But you actually are going that fast inside the race car," said Bowen.

He was relatively unknown on the circuit until he started placing near the top.

"Yeah, they didn't really know me, but they for sure knew me when I left because we finished in a good place," said Bowen.

It seems Anderson always finishes in a good place. In his career, he's won more than 100 feature races and last year Anderson was named rookie of the year. Since most races happen on Sunday, he juggles time on the track with time in class. But his teachers say his focus never wavers.

"Knows what he's going to do, so unlike so many freshmen in high school. Yet, he's still determined, still willing to put in the work that it takes for school, recognizing the importance of it, and does a good job in those areas," said Shane Woodward of Greater Atlanta Christian School.

Bowen says his next goal is to get his driver's license.

"I have a little bit of a lead foot. So, I think I'll have to keep it easy on the gas," Bowen said.

Bowen's ultimate goal is not just to race on Sundays, but Fridays and Saturdays as a full-time driver in NASCAR. For more information on Anderson Bowen, and for his latest racing schedule, click here! You can follow Bowen on Twitter @AndersonBowen29 or on Facebook!