Social Media Offers Ryan Bowden Opportunity To Join Sick Week 2023, and Ryan Also Plans Appearance on Sick Summer
Although some may denounce it, social media is a great way to share our lives on platforms available across the world. For racers and auto enthusiasts, the information shared could help someone on their path to building the vehicle of their dreams, or even participate in an organized event for the first time. For Ryan Bowden, Facebook became his ticket to Sick Week in 2023, an event not originally on the short list for the Wisconsin native. In fact, he aimed to compete at the new Sick Summer event. But when Facebook friend Sean Prejean offered up the co-pilot seat to Ryan, he couldn’t believe it.
Sean Prejean’s 4WD F-150 produced a 10.11 average on Sick Week 2022. The Texas-based truck will bring Facebook friends Sean and Ryan Bowden together for Sick Week 2023.
“We have been friends on Facebook for a few years, but have never met (in real life),” said Ryan. Considering the two have almost identical Ford F-150 pick-up trucks, it seems almost destined that the two enthusiasts would meet up, despite being hundreds of miles away from each other. “I live in Wisconsin, he’s in Texas,” said Ryan. “He just randomly offered me the spot (to co-pilot).” Ryan jumped at the opportunity, and in early February, he will fly to Texas to help Sean with the drive to Florida for Sick Week. Sean ran the Dial-Your-Own (DYO) class at the 2022 edition of Sick Week, posting the third-quickest average at 10.11 with his Whipple-supercharged 2020 Ford F-150 four-wheel-drive pick-up.
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But for Ryan, his drag-and-drive calendar got an additional boost in 2023, as he will compete in the newly-formed Sick Summer event with his 2018 Ford F-150 four-wheel-drive pick-up, which is also boosted by a Whipple supercharger. And although Ryan states he is “definitely excited to be part of Sick Week,” the Sick Summer event will allow him and his father to participate. “My dad is going to be my co-pilot for Sick Summer,” said Ryan, reflecting on the classic father and son road trip. “He got me into the hot rod scene when I was younger,” he added, and Ryan hopes to push his pick-up into the 9-second range for his Sick Summer appearance.
Although it looks deceiving in the Wisconsin snow, Ryan Bowden’s F-150 has run a best of 10.21 at the track, and he plans to invade the 9-second zone when spring arrives in 2023.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Ryan Bowden / Motion Raceworks.