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!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:37:15 GMT
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person.
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person. But Paul turned up the heat when he enlisted the help of two actresses from the new movie Operation Heat to play a little prank on his unsuspecting coworkers.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:30:53 GMT
Does your summer road trip include mouth-watering stops at mom-and-pop eateries? Ours does, and it'll be even better with the help of a new Southern Living book!
Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings is dedicated to finding the best meals in the south-- and it features some great restaurants right here in north Georgia. Good Day's Paul Milliken checked out two of those gems-- The Hil in Serenbe, and Weaver D's in Athens! As usual, he didn't leave hungry.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:17:14 GMT
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show.
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show. But first, she stopped by Good Day to cook us up one of her favorite recipes.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:56 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:56:24 GMT
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap.
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap. If you have more than one child who needs braces, you have quite an expense on your hands—but FOX 5 I-Team reporter Dana Fowle found some ways to make it a little more manageable.
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:29 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:29:22 GMT
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:51:47 GMT
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy.
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy. A study by the CDC released last week shows that one in every 20 kids is dealing with food allergies. It's a challenge, but doctors say it's important that kids get diagnosed and treated.
