When it comes to drag racing, Ricky Bowen has always enjoyed watching the sport. But now that his son Patrick is competing, Ricky is all in.
It hasn't always been easy to race, said Patrick's mother, and Ricky's wife, Patricia Bowen.
Patrick suffers from spina bifida. It is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the U.S., and occurs when a baby is in the womb and the spinal column does not close all of the way, according to the Spina Bifida Association.
"Patrick walked with braces and is now wheelchair bound," Patricia said.
Ricky said Patrick decided he wanted to start racing after a trip to a speedway.
"Patrick watched racing in Atlanta, and he told me this is what he wants to do," Ricky said.
To get him started, Ricky had a friend make a custom car for Patrick that had hand controls installed to allow Patrick to drive.
"He's a fast learner," Ricky said. "He started winning (races) pretty quickly."
"With him not being able to play sports, I wanted to get him into something he would look forward to," said Ricky. "I've always enjoyed fast cars, and it's something we enjoy doing as a father and son team."
Ricky said Patrick started competing across the Southeast, including in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida.
"He has around 60 or 70 trophies at the store," said Ricky, who owns Bowen Auto Parts on Jefferson Davis Highway in North Augusta. "These trophies are counting junior drag races."
Now racing in more serious competitions, Patricia and Ricky said they are glad Patrick gets to do what he loves.
"He has had numerous surgeries," said Ricky. "He has that mindset to get through it and continue doing what he loves, which is racing."
Ricky said in the 20 years that Patrick has been racing, he has not been hurt.
"He knows how to control the car, thankfully," he said.
Patrick's new race car also was custom made, Ricky said, and can reach 125 mph in 5.4 seconds.
At the end of the day, Ricky said he has a lot of pride in his son's determination to race.
"Him being a wheelchair and doing what he does has touched a lot of lives," he said. "We have always raised him to do anything anybody else can do, and to have that mindset."
Will Whaley is the crime and court reporter for the Aiken Standard.
He is a native of Fayette, Alabama and graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in journalism.