▁his ▁family ▁had ▁no ▁connection ▁to ▁the ▁sport ▁and ▁he ▁was ▁first ▁introduced ▁to ▁motor ▁racing ▁as ▁a ▁senior ▁in ▁college , ▁where ▁he ▁en rolled ▁in ▁Sk ip ▁Bar ber ▁Racing ▁School ' s ▁ 3 - day ▁intro duct ory ▁class ▁at ▁Lag una ▁Sec a ▁Race way . ▁There , ▁his ▁instruct ors ▁nominated ▁him ▁to ▁comp ete ▁in ▁the ▁school ' s ▁annual ▁Ind y ▁Car ▁Academy ▁Sho ot out , ▁which ▁O wen ▁ended ▁up ▁winning , ▁thus ▁jump - start ing ▁his ▁career ▁in ▁mot ors port . ▁ ▁While ▁compet ing ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁Sk ip ▁Bar ber ▁Summer ▁Series , ▁O wen ▁was ▁nominated ▁for ▁the ▁Team ▁USA ▁Sch olar ship . ▁Although ▁a ▁final ist , ▁O wen ▁was ▁not ▁chosen ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁two ▁recip ients ▁of ▁the ▁scholar ship ▁that ▁year . ▁However , ▁through ▁the ▁Team ▁USA ▁program , ▁O wen ▁was ▁introduced ▁to ▁Cl iff ▁D emp sey ▁of ▁" Cl iff ▁D emp sey ▁Racing " ▁in ▁the ▁UK . ▁O wen ▁eventually ▁joined ▁D emp sey ' s ▁Irish ▁FF 1 6 0 0 ▁racing ▁team ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁ ▁Formula ▁Ford ▁ 1 6 0 0 ▁▁ ▁O wen ▁simultaneously ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁Av on ▁Ty res ▁Northern ▁Formula ▁Ford ▁Championship ▁( 1 st ▁overall ) ▁along ▁with ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁Av on ▁Ty res ▁National ▁Formula ▁Ford ▁Championship ▁(