The Ontario, California native held off a field of hungry young drivers in the closing laps of a thrilling Toyota All Star Showdown. Since then, Bowles has been riding high with excitement. And on Tuesday, the ecstatic young racer agreed to answer some questions posed by yours truly:

Ben: First off, what was it like to win the Toyota All Star Showdown?

Bowles: It was a great accomplishment. It felt great because I have worked so hard in my career and now I feel like I have accomplished a lot in stock car racing. I have won races, a [K&N]West Series championship and the All Star Showdown.

Ben: What was going through your mind during those last few laps?

Bowles: I was just thinking please no caution. I knew I could out run them but I didn’t want to give them another chance.

Ben: You’ve now won the Daytona 500 of short track racing. What’s next for Jason Bowles?

Bowles: Next up is the Daytona ARCA race. Just gonna try to put together as many quality races as I can during the year.

Ben: Finally, there are a lot of young racers out there striving to be the next Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, and now Jason Bowles. What advice would you, as a proven winner, give to those young guys?

Bowles: My advice would have to be to never stop trying. If you have a dream I am proof that no matter what stands in your way if you are willing to work hard enough you can get there. You have to take chances and you have to be willing to put 110% into everything you do from the minute you wake up. I have worked on every race car I have ever driven and I feel like that has made me a better racer because I understand the car.

In an age where drivers 21-years old and under seemingly rule the development programs, Bowles has proven that even guys who are a few years older can get the job done. All it takes is hard work, understanding of the race car, and a never-say-die attitude.

Some people like to say that nice guys finish last, and hard work doesn’t pay off. Jason Bowles is living proof that both those statements are false.

Here’s to you Jason Bowles. Keep up the hard work and continue defying the odds. I can’t wait to see you in Sprint Cup.

The X-Games star made his much-anticipated NASCAR debut Saturday night, and while he didn’t win, he impressed the NASCAR nation. Including yours truly.

Pastrana started 20th in the 40-car field. He bided his time most of the race, hanging out around mid-pack through the majority of the first 200 laps. Pastrana used that time to get used to the car and racing with others, and managed to stay out of trouble.

That, in it’s own right, was a spectacular feat.

Seemingly every wreck that occurred Saturday night(and there were lots of them) happened directly in front of or near Pastrana. Yet, with the help of spotter Matt Crafton, Pastrana avoided all the carnage and survived to make a charge to the front at the end.

And when crunch time came, he did just that. All of Pastrana’s passes were clean as he dashed to race with the leaders. When he grazed the wall off turn 2 while driving the wheels off the car in the closing laps, Pastrana didn’t blink, staying in the throttle the entire time.

And as the leaders came to the line, there was Pastrana racing wheel-to-wheel with polesitter Derek Thorn, on the outside of a three-wide battle to the stripe. Pastrana beat them both, and ended his debut with a sixth-place finish.

But if that wasn’t impressive enough, Pastrana’s post-race interview sold me.

What he said, I can’t even remember. All I can recall is the excitement in his voice, and the thrill he was experiencing having just completed his first NASCAR race. I thought to myself, “This is a guy I could watch race, and win, for many years to come.”

If Pastrana can keep his positive attitude, and never loses his contagious excitement, he might just be what the doctor ordered for NASCAR. The guy is skilled. He’s exciting. He’s flat-out fun to watch.

He’s Travis Pastrana. And if Saturday night was any indication, he’s here to stay.