Born in Ormskirk, Owen took up speedway at the age of fourteen at the training school at Belle Vue and made his competitive debut for Barrow Bombers in the British League second division in 1973.[3]
By 1974, he averaged over seven points per match and rode in the Young England team in matches against Australasia and Poland.[3] In 1975, he moved to Newcastle Diamonds and rode in the top division for Hull Vikings, for which he would go on to ride until 1981.[3] He again represented Young England in 1975 and finished as runner-up in the British Junior Championship.[3]
He returned to Newcastle in the National League in 1982, also riding on loan at Leicester Lions in the British League in 1982.[6] In 1982, he won the National League Rider's Championship, held at Wimbledon Stadium on 18 September for the second time[7] and the fours championship for a second time.[8]
The following season in 1983, he won the fours championship for the third time.[9]
In 1985, he moved on to Ellesmere Port Gunners in what proved to be his final season, in which the Gunners won the National League and Owen won the National League Best Pairs title with Louis Carr.[10] A crash at Birmingham in 1985 ended his career and left him paralysed.[11]
He went on to represent the full England team on several occasions.[6]
