With having put together a stellar second full-time campaign at Sunset Speedway, Jordan Owen is entering the 2024 season full of excitement, despite feeling a couple nerves along the way.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back in my race car and being part of one of the track’s most competitive divisions,” he told SHORT TRACK MUSINGS. “Like a lot of other racers, I also tend to get nervous before a new season starts. I know that sometimes unexpected things might happen during a race where it’s possible things may go wrong, but what really helps me is knowing that I have a bunch of amazing people on my side to help me with whatever problems I may run into so thinking about that really helps me a lot.”

Owen’s confidence comes knowing this will be his second year partnered with Shake N’ Bake Motorsports, which consists of Brandon Steele and Nicholas Reece among others. He enjoyed spending time with “some of the coolest people you could ever meet,” while knowing they will help someone if needed.

“When I got into my wreck in June, I got out of my car to assess the damage and wondered how any of it was fixable. I thought for sure that my car will never turn another lap around Sunset or any other race track ever again,” he recalled. “But as soon as Sunday arrived they took my car and got right to work fixing it without hesitation and it was fixed right in time for the next race on Canada Day when I thought I was going to miss a couple races! It was amazing!! On top of that, we even ended up finishing in the top-five in points!

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Shake N’ Bake Motorsports and all of my other amazing sponsors!!”

Aside from the strong points finish, Owen was able to capture five top-five’s and nine top-10’s, including his second career feature victory in June.

“One of the things that I loved about that win was how I was going up against the best of the best in the division for the win and how hard I had to work to get to the front,” he commented. “The racing was intense with drivers sometimes trading paint to get past one another and I really loved being a part of it.”

Knowing he has the capability of running up front, Owen says it will be critical in 2024 to be consistent in doing so, beginning with regular maintenance and continuing to adjust as needed.

“We’re also getting busy and making sure the car is in tip top shape for the new season,” he added. “We’re also planning a new tire strategy for 2024. As for the driving aspect, I want to focus on not looking in the mirror too much and focusing on more of what’s in front of me.”

For Owen, he got his start behind the wheel at the age of 14 courtesy of the Arrive & Drive program put on by the Canadian Karting League when it was happening on a weekly basis at Sunset Speedway.

“I won the championship in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and I got out of karting after graduating high school and focused on getting a job and saving up for a race car, which took me a long four years to build up,” he shared. “I finally was able to purchase a car in 2020, while racing was put on hold due to COVID-19, we ran some test sessions in the fall, and finally I made my first start in July of 2021. I have enjoyed it ever since.”

As for whether he would like to change the course and try a different division, Owen is not sure that would happen despite the desire to possibly do so.

“Although I would love to, I also need to take into consideration of how much it will cost to run consistently every weekend in a higher division,” he commented. “At this point, I feel like racing in the bone stocks is the right duck pond for me to be in.”