Christian Bowman: Looking to Better His Rookie Season
Thursday, May 19, 2016
by Joanne Cram
After an outstanding rookie season in 2015, Christian Bowman has hit the track running. He went out on his second night of the 2016 season and parked his 305 in victory lane, achieving one of several goals he has for this season at Knoxville Raceway.
The 20 year old out of Altoona, Iowa, has a history in racing that started in his childhood. He began his career as a nine year old at English Creek Speedway, racing winged outlaw dirt karts to start, then onto the Box Stock class. Christian then moved into a 125 cc for 2 seasons where he won Rookie of the Year honors in his first season, and won the track championship his second season out. The next step towards racing sprint cars was to move into a micro sprint, where Bowman raced locally for four seasons throughout Iowa as well as Missouri. The number 15 has been his number since his first few seasons, one which he chose to honor his favorite sprint car driver, Donny Schatz.
Bowman’s team, consisting of his dad, Kelly; Grandfather, Harold; Uncle, Brett Bowman; Jason James and Austin Nyheim, decided that 2015 was the season to move into a sprint car, competing weekly at Knoxville Raceway. The 19 year old hoped to gain experience, laps, and Rookie of the Year honors for 2015. Bowman accomplished all of those things in his eight appearances at Knoxville Raceway. He set quick time once, and had several top five finishes.
Wanting to get a few more laps under his belt before moving up to a 360, Bowman welcomed 2016 with a new 305 track record in time trials of 16.74 and a win on his second night out. Building on his successful 2015 season, Christian is aiming for a season championship in the 305 class. Ultimately, he hopes to move up to a 360 next season, before landing in the 410 class.
When Christian isn’t on the track or working on being on the track, he is working towards completing his electrical apprenticeship with Modern Electric, and likes to play disc golf.
Sponsors of the Maxim, Ostrich-powered number 15 include ENT Clinic of Iowa, Modern Electric Services, Twin Oaks Landscaping, Cameron Mitchell Concrete, Liberty Ready Mix, Local 67 Iron Workers, and Keizer Wheels. Crewing along side Christian are his dad, Kelly; uncle, Brett, and friends Jason James and Austin Nyheim. His supportive family include mom, Joy, and 14 year old brother, Carson. Christian’s biggest supporters are his grandparents, Harold and Linda Bowman. He would also like to thank his sponsors and his team for all the hard work and loyal support.
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