Born in El Cajon, California, Cameron began racing go-karts at the age of 9. He competed in various types of go-karts before eventually graduating to stockcars. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1996 in the late model division at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California. Despite not attending the first NASCAR Winston West Series race of the season in 1998, Cameron went on to win the Rookie-of-the-Year Award and finished fourth in the championship standings. He was among a contingent of NWWS drivers to participate in the NASCAR exhibition event in Japan at Twin Ring Motegi in November 1998. He collected his first series win in 1999 at Irwindale Speedway and finished the year second in the championship standings.