Anderson Bowen Heads to Montgomery with a Little Extra Confidence

Tied for the Top Spot with Texan Casey Smith, Bowen Homes to Come Out with the Lead

With eight top-10 finishes already to his credit in 2014 between Pro and Super Late Models, Anderson Bowen is on a mission this year.  The Georgia driver now has crew chief Ricky Turner on full-time basis after sharing Turner with Chase Elliott’s Pro and Super Late Model efforts in 2013.  The pairing seems to be working out well with some strong early-season runs that have led him to a tie in the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco point standings.

But now Bowen, under Turner's tutelage, wants to turn those strong runs into victories.  His next opportunity to earn that first victory of the year comes on Saturday, May 10 in the Rumble by the River 125 at Alabama's Montgomery Motor Speedway.

“We’ve had a good start to the season so far,” said Bowen.  “We’ve come out with some strong runs at Pensacola and we’ve had some pretty good runs in a Pro Late Model this season.  I’m pretty sure with how things have been going, we’re getting closer and closer each week at each race track we go to.  The guys at the shop are giving me better cars week in and week out.  We’re really happy with how things have started off this season.”

With two previous top-five finishes at Montgomery Motor Speedway in the past Bowen now hopes to add a win to those stats in this weekend’s Southern Super Series event.

“I think Montgomery is going to be a place that’s going to be good to us,” said Bowen.  “I like the track a lot and my crew chief Ricky (Turner) has had a lot of success there.  We’re really looking forward to going to that race and I feel like we should have a strong run there.”

Although it is still early in the season, Bowen has his mind on the points going into this weekend’s 125-lap event.  And rightfully so as the 16-year-old is currently tied for the lead in the Southern Super Series standing with long-time Super Late Model competitor Casey Smith.

“I feel like it is just another race and you treat it like every other race," added Bowen.  "You don’t really put that much pressure on yourself as the points leader knowing that it’s still early.  You don’t know what could happen going in.  Going into the race as the points leader is just a huge confidence booster for me and the team.  Going in knowing that we had the lead and now we’re still tied is a huge plus.”

But that does not mean Bowen will be doing any ‘points racing’ at Montgomery, however.  The Georgia racer and the crew of his Copper Creek Hardware No. 29 car are out for victories.

“We’re putting a lot of emphasis on getting a win,” said Bowen.  “That’s what we’re trying to do.  We want to go out and win some races.  We were close in a Pro Late Model at Pensacola and we were close at Toledo in the Super Late Model.  I feel like we’re going to start winning some races.  If we can keep going doing what we’re doing the wins will come.”

With a great team behind him, Bowen knows it is up to him to get the job done on track in order to bring home the trophies.

“Me as a driver I’ve got to be on my game and not mess up.  We’ve all got to be on our game with no mistakes at all at the race track.”

The Southern Super Series Rumble by the River 125 at Montgomery Motor Speedway will take the green flag at 7pm CT on Saturday, May 10.  For entry forms, tickets and more information for the Rumble by the River 125, visit www.montgomerymotorspeedway.org.

May 7, 2014