Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX - Landen Lewis Interview - 2025 Late Model Stock Tour champion

Episode Date: October 23, 2025

Kevin Harvick is joined by 2025 CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion Landen Lewis for a special episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. Fresh off his title-clinching run at North Wilkesboro, Lewis reflects on his season-long battle with Connor Hall, finishing 7th in the finale to secure the championship. Landen opens up about his racing journey, the mindset it took to become a champion at just 18 years old, and why he still works on his own cars to stay sharp. He also talks about inspiring the next generation of short-track racers and preserving the roots of the sport. And before the episode ends—Landen drops a BIG announcement about his future you won’t want to miss. LINK TO SUBMIT PICKS FOR MARTINSVILLE: https://forms.gle/gP5eBuaQMF3hHqCg8 0:00 - Intro 0:31 - Landen Lewis Joins The Show! 2:49 - Landen’s Work Ethic 13:35 - Call From Dale Jr. 15:40 - Admiration For Kevin 24:39 - Truck Racing Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anything I get in, I want to master and I want to do better than anyone. My fuel of the fire all year long is I'm going to beat someone that has been doing this forever. My phone starts going off. I look over and it's Dale and he's calling me. You can't get comfortable in these situations because you never know when your last win is going to be. So you better learn how to lose before you learn how to win. Welcome to Kevin Harvitz-Hapier, presented by NASCAR on Fox. And today we have our 2025 late model stock harsh tour champion, Landon Lewis, in the studio.

Thanks for taking the time. Thank you for having me. It's pretty cool. Yeah, I feel like this is probably one of those interviews where I have to go back and say, okay, I probably shouldn't ask that. I probably know too much about all the things about you to get too far in depth. So we'll leave some of that stuff to not talk about today. But talk about, just talk about Saturday night and everything that went down. I know you had a lot of nerves and a lot of pressure,

but that's really what the late model stock series is for and what we've created on the cars tour side. It's still really intense in order to deal with all the pressure. Yeah, I mean, Saturday night was just, it was a super cool moment to be a part of. And I really honestly just starts with Friday. And really the whole week, honestly, the whole week, I was like, man, this is super cool to have this opportunity

to race for a championship. And, you know, everyone's, again, it's late model racing. It's late model racing. But it's not your typical late model series. I mean, this is the best series in the country, in my opinion, to be a part of. And, you know, all week just made sure every nut, every bolt, everything on the race car was going to be the most prepared as it possibly could be just to eliminate all the excuses, I guess you could say, of, oh, this happened or that happened. And really just making sure that I did my job correctly and do my study and do the things that I needed to do behind the scenes to give myself the best shot as possible and all my guys as well. So it was just super cool to be a part of.

And it's cool to be at North Wilkesboro with the championship race. That was awesome. And it's just super cool experience. Yeah. And I think when you go and you look at, we talk on the show a lot, you know, there's a, racing is a lot different than what it used to be. And I think for me, we would never have run this car full time if it wasn't for you. And I think that, you know, giving you the opportunity to go out and showcase who you are as a

driver and a person has been as much fun for the guys working on your car and Rodney, Childers, who helped us with the late model program while he was in between jobs, I guess is the best way to put it. But to a lot of people that listen to this show, they hear us talk about a lot about the current generation. For me, the most fun thing to be a part of about this situation is you can hang the body, you can put the whole car together. You set up the car, you and Miles, you're talking through the setups. You're driving it, you're driving it to the racetrack, you're delivering golf carts during the week, you're washing golf carts during the week, you're running errands.

Where did that work ethic come from as far as learning how to work on the cars, knowing that you were going to have to work on the cars? Because to me, the thing that I would tell most people is the reason that you got this opportunity is because of your work ethic and who you are. So where did that start? Yeah, I mean, first off, you know, I didn't really. I didn't really know that was the reason why we went and ran full-time, you know, what you just said of my hard work and all that stuff. I just, it's normal to me.

You know, I grew up in a family that, you know, I was told that if you want something, you got to work for it and you got to work hard for it. And that's kind of how I was, you know, brought up in life. And, you know, there was times when I was a kid sitting upstairs trying to play video games. My dad's like, no, no, this isn't how that's going to work. We're going to be in the shop. When we're go-cart racing, you know, my dad's like, you're going to be in the shop learning. everything that you possibly can. And then it kind of fell over to when I got hooked up with Ron.

And he told me from the very beginning that if you're going to do this as a career, you're going to have to understand every part, every piece, how to put these things together when you wreck them. You're going to have to understand how to do that because the guys respect that. And that's the biggest thing for me is just earning that respect to my guys that, hey, if I destroy this race car tonight, don't worry Monday morning. I'll be in there to fix it with you guys. So, you know, the work ethic part of it, I think, just comes from my family just brought me up to, you know, hard work.

Like, that's what it takes to get to, you know, what you want to do in life. And obviously, your hard work and behind the scenes of helping me just grow into a better person and Ron and Delana with my interview help and all the stuff that, you know, it takes to be a race car driver, but a good person in general, too. So I think that's where the hard work part comes from is just my family of how they brought me up. Yeah. And I think when you look at the tour and you look at everything that comes with what you guys have done this year on the racetrack, off the racetrack, and all those things, when you look at Butterbean and Lane Riggs and all the guys that are getting the opportunities to go race in ARCA or the trucks or Carson in the Xfinity car, what makes late model stock racing? I mean, I agree with you. I think we have the best late model series in the country. But now everybody wants to come here and race

because they're real opportunities. And what do you think makes that late model stock make you so prepared for the next level? Man, I just, I think it's, you know, you got guys like Lee Poyam, you got Philip Morris, you got all these guys that grew up, you know, racing late model stocks, and it's hard. I mean, they do this for a living.

That's, you know, how they put food on the table. And, you know, we talked about this at the shop a couple weeks ago with Rodney. And he's like, you know, I think the biggest difference from, you know, where racing is now to where the short track level still is, is, you know, if these guys don't win races, they don't put food on the table for their families. And, you know, I never really thought of it that way until he brought that up. And I'm like, you know, that's a pretty true statement, you know, without winning races and running good, they don't sell things. They don't sell parts. They don't sell race cars. They don't sell those things.

And, you know, that's a little different than what the NASCAR ranks are. are now, you know, they don't have chassis builders that, you know, are trying to build race cars to sell. And I think that's the biggest difference. And it's just tough. I mean, late model stock racing. I remember my first time getting into late model stock. I went and tested at Hickory and I thought I was pretty decent. I remember going there and helping you at North Wilkesboro. And I thought that was something I wanted to do. And went to Hickory. I thought I was pretty decent. And then we showed up and qualified on the pole, my first ever car to race. I'm like, all right, like, I know what I'm doing here. I got this, you know, the world

my hands, like you're right here in my hands. And first race, I missed about every shift I possibly can miss on every restart. I clogged up the field and I, everyone thought I was, didn't know what I was doing and I really didn't belong in the cars tour. And from that moment on, it was, it was work. I had to work for it. I had to do everything I possibly could, talking to you, talking to Josh Barry, talking to Lane Riggs, you know, you name it. Lee Poyum, that was another guy that I went to so much because, you know, they mastered it. And I wanted to know how to master it. And they've helped me a ton to attempt to master it. I haven't mastered it yet, but that's my goal. Is anything I get in, I want to master and I want to do better than anyone.

How important was that part-time year last year to be able to prepare you for this year? I mean, it was, it's really what helped me, you know, conquer this year, really. You know, there was moments throughout that year that I thought I knew what I was doing and then I got, you know, punched in the face a little bit that I didn't know what I was doing. And it helped me learn how to work on the race car, how to understand the parts, the shocks, the springs, the bump stops, all these things that go on the race car that, you know, make it go in a circle. And that part helped me a ton. I think, you know, growing last year was probably my biggest thing. You know, we ended up winning one race last year. And I was a part of the 29 group a little bit last year as well when I wasn't

racing and we won a couple races. And, you know, everything was going good. And then right there towards the end of the year, I won my first race. And I'm like, all right, like, I finally won a race. Like, let's do this. Now I got my feet on the ground and I can start running. And the next race is after that, I ran dead last. And I was terrible. And I'm like, well, never mind. I don't know what I'm doing.

So then, you know, this year I won my first race at Ace right there at beginning the year. And I was like, man, that was the first time that I've ever had a dominant race car. And I actually pulled away from the field. And I was like, okay, like, now I think I know what I need in my race car to go fast. And then we turn around a week later and went dominated at Wilkesboro. And it's like, all right. Like, now I know what I'm doing.

Like, let's keep this going. But then it's, you know, two weeks later, I'm getting slapped in a face again. Like, hey, you need to get it back together. You don't really know what you're doing yet. So there was moments of growing and learning and how to do everything the right way. And it came all the way down to the end of the year. Yeah. You know, with that one week good, one week bad, winning, not winning, crashing,

whatever the scenario was, all those things that come with racing. But you race Connor Hall all the way to the end of the season. and what type of competitor was he to race against? I mean, it got a little rough over the last couple races, but what was that like off the racetrack with him? I don't know him well, but I'm interested to see what that was like. Yeah, I think the biggest thing, you know, racing against someone that, you know, I think he said in an interview at one point that he started racing late models in 2006,

and that's when I was born. So he's been doing this for a very, very, very long time. And I knew going into this year when we kind of got, three or four races in, that we were pretty good in points. And I'm like, okay, we got a shot to go and chase after a championship. And I knew that was a guy that we're going to have to chase after all year long, you know, that the 88's been good every single year. And they somehow find their way up front every single time, no matter where they start in the race. So racing against Connor and being around Connor was something that honestly pushed me. Like,

you know, he has a type of way that, you know, he doesn't talk much. He's not a very vocal person. So I kind of used that as field of the fire a little bit throughout the year that, hey, he's kind of upset that I'm, you know, a 19 year old racing against him and he's been doing this for a long time. And I've heard in interviews that, you know, he was driven by, you know, he wanted to win. Like, you know, Dale expected him to win. And I'm like, you know what, like, I'm going to do my best to not make you win. Like, that's my field of my fire of like, you know, what do I need to do to push harder and beat him? And that was my, My fuel of the fire all year long is I'm going to beat someone that has been doing this forever just to show that I belong here.

And you pair that with what's been the dominant team. Yeah, 100%. One of the dominant teams in late metal stock racing with junior motorsports and everything they've done came all the way down to the end. It did. And it was intense. It was intense. You know, through the middle of the year there, I felt like, you know, we had a shot to win six or seven races. And we were running really good all year long.

And then it really came down to two races that really jeopardy. us a lot. And those are 100% my fault. You know, I went to Carraway and we started 7th and we drove to the field, had the best race car I've ever had in a long time. And I got to the lead, restart with 25 to go, and I drove right over my head and made a stupid mistake that I really regret. And, you know, then I turned around two weeks later and went to Hickory for 50,000 a win. And, you know, you can tell the intensity was in the air and it came down to tend to go on a restart and I made another mistake. And I'm like, man, like, what do I do to not make these mistakes? Like, you know, this is kind of embarrassing, honestly. You make them. Yeah. The only way to learn from them is to make them. Yeah. And I'm like,

man, this is embarrassing. Like, I don't know why I keep doing this. And it took sitting down with Rodney, sitting down with all my guys on a Monday morning at the shop. And after Hickory, we ended up wrecking. And I had a jet ski trip plan that we do every year. And we go down to Key West to, you know, we ride jet skis from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. And that's something we've done two years. years in a row now. Well, I had it plan. I was going to leave. You know, times are tough. I already booked my plane flight because, you know, it rained on Saturday, so I had to cancel my flight. It was just a whole big deal. And I'm like, all right, I'm going to do it. But we wrecked. And I'm like, what do I do now? Like, I have to be there for these guys. You know, these is rough two weeks

for these guys. And you know what? I was driving home that night from the racetrack. I'm like, I'm going to cancel it. I'm going to stay at the shop. I'm going to work with these guys. You know, they bust their butt 24-7. They're not home with their families. Like, you know, I don't have a family that's up here. So it's a little different for me. And I stayed here. I worked. And we showed up at Anderson. We won. We showed up at Florence. We won. And I'm like, all right, let's do it. And then, like you said, it came down to the last race of just a stressful day. It was very stressful for me. Very emotional for me. I started bawling when I got in the car and having you come up to my door and telling me, you know, you just go do your thing. It kind of honestly

calm me down like a lot. And I just, I thank you for that. You know, it was been a great year. Yeah. Well, I think a lot of people don't, if you're not in that moment to understand that adrenaline rush and all the anxiety and everything that goes with those moments, but those are moments that you have to experience in order because the pressure just keeps ramping up, right? And learning how to deal with that is not easy. No, it's not. And I spent a day yesterday just trying to enjoy it. And I told Delaney actually this story earlier that, you know, I was sleeping. I got home at 4 o'clock in the morning. I'm in the bed and my phone starts going off and I'm like,

you know, why is my phone going off this early? Like I kind of was going to sleep in a little bit. Well, I look over and it's Dale and he's calling me. And I'm freaking, I jump out by the bed. I'm wiping my eyes out trying to wake up. And he answers the phone and I was like, what's up? He's like, what are you doing? I'm like, well, I just woke up. You know, I got home at 4 o'clock in the morning. And he's like, you know, he tells me a good job. And I'm like, man, this is so cool to live that moment because, you know, my mentor Ron, he got that phone call from Dale Senior. And I got a phone call from Dale Jr.

And I'm like, man, that's freaking awesome to be a part of. So I went to Ron yesterday and told him the story. And he started crying. And he was so emotional about it because he's like, my call was, you know, to come out here and race for Delin Hart Jr. And I got a phone call yesterday morning from Dale Jr. And I thought that was so cool. And he's like, Landa, I want to tell you this now that it's over with.

He goes, you don't understand how hard and bad I wanted to help you get through this moment. He goes, but there's not words that I could have. told you to help you. He's like, you don't, you don't understand until you actually live it. And I lived it on Saturday night. And it was, it was stressful, but it was, it was pretty cool to be a part of it. Yeah. And I think, I race this weekend, but I think that it was pretty intentional to not come around the trailer, come around the car. I'm a, and Dale said that, right? Like, you, you just have to, you have to experience those moments. You have to live those moments to be able to understand how to deal with them. Yeah. For sure. And, you know, the other thing that it does,

when you have a good thing going, me standing, I learned when we had our trucks and our Xfinity cars, like I would just stand back, right? Because the chemistry and everything that you have going on, all you do is disrupted. Right. And it just interferes with everything,

showing, everybody's showing up on championship weekend. You got more people in the trailer. You got more people around. You got more pressure on yourself. And you're like, get these damn people out of here. I don't want to be around more people. That was definitely a lot for sure. You know, I have all your sponsors there.

And all the people that, you know, want to see you succeed. So it was definitely cool to be a part of. And like you said, like you don't really come around much because you don't want to be in the way. But we do know as a group at the shop, when Kevin does whirl into the shop, you know, he's there to fix something because there's something that he doesn't think is right. So, you know, we're listening and we're trying to just pay attention as much as possible because, you know, like I told you yesterday when I sent you that text was, I want to be like you one day with the knowledge and the experience that you have and how to be a problem solver. And I feel like that's why you were so good is you're just, you're just,

just so good at problem solving. And Rodney said the same thing. You know, we were at a racetrack one weekend. And I started telling him about the car and I told him about 10 different things that I needed to be fixed. And he's like, listen, at some point, we can fix only one thing. Like, we can't fix 10 things at once. He's like, that's why Kevin was so good was he was able to explain the one thing that he needed to be fixed to go fast. Start at the top. Yeah. So there was moments throughout the year when I started rambling on, oh, I need this. I need that. I need this. And he's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, remember what I told you, and I'm like, crap, my bad. Let me fix that real quick.

So like you said, you don't really come around much, but when you do, we listen because, you know, you're going to fix the problem that we need to be fixed. Yeah. And, you know, I think it's, I've had to come around a lot less this year because you guys have had it under control. And I think when you mentioned Rodney, Miles has done a great job with learning.

He was my shock guy on the forecard, had never been a crew chief in his life. And now you guys are hanging bodies and doing everything for the most part yourself in the shop, which has been fun to watch everybody learn, but it's always fun to kind of trial by fire. You know, it is. I mean, we've learned a ton this year. I mean, I learned a ton.

I was telling your bus driver actually yesterday, nervous. Bus driver works on the car too. He works on the car, yeah. And I was telling him yesterday, I said it's so cool of what we've done in two years with this organization. And I've tried to be there since the beginning, and I've missed a couple of races. But it's just so cool what we've done in the last two years. years. I mean, I was telling him at one point last year, we didn't even have a bolt ban in the shot.

I mean, we were running a fastnall, running an SRI to get bolts every two seconds. And we were trying to build these things with grade five bolts. And we're like, what are we doing? Like, we need put grade eight bolts on these things. And, you know, we finally got our bolt band this year. Like, we're moving on up in the world. So it was just super cool to see every part, every piece on those race cars get put on. And the growing that we did this year was super cool. How is Rodney? You know, it's just really unique. You know, Rodney was the reason that we bought the late model stock and went and ran the race because of his passion for late model stock racing kind of in and out with lane and Josh Barry and getting their relationship kicked off

or you know when they started working together at Stewart House racing and then things changed and Josh went his way. Josh has stayed as a mentor for you and very much has a lot of experience on the late model stock side but obviously you guys have become friends and talk a lot but how has Rodney helped, not only you, but the whole group, just understand how to race? That's been a very common question here lately since, you know, he came over after everything that went down. And, you know, really the setup side of it hasn't really changed much. You know, we haven't done anything very, like, spectacular to change the way the cars are driving or anything. It's really just the communication, the how to put a season together.

The mental warfare. Yeah, I mean, it's a lot. I mean, it's just mentally, you have to be strong in this sport. And he's just, I mean, you guys won a cup championship together. You guys won 40 races. Like, I mean, you guys won a lot of races together. And he knows how to put a weekend together. And that's the biggest thing is I think we were lacking is how to put a weekend together,

how not to over-adjust on the car when we feel like we're far off, but we're really not that far off. And he's just so good at putting a weekend together and putting a season together. And he just helped me process through everything. I mean, there was multiple Mondays after a weekend that I'd be calling him, hey, what do I need to do different? He's like, I don't really think you need to do anything different. I think you're doing just fine.

I'm like, okay, sounds good. But I feel like, as a person, I need to do something different, just trying to be better. You know, that's the biggest thing is you can't get comfortable in the situation you're in. You know, I caught myself throughout the year getting comfortable. And I show up the next weekend and I struggle. And I'm like, whoa, like, you can't get comfortable in these situations because Ron's always told me you never know when your last win is going to be

and you never know when your last championship's going to be. So you better learn how to lose before you learn how to win. And that was something that it made pretty much sense this year, was there was moments where we were on top of the world, and there was moments we were below zero down underneath the world. So just understanding that emotional roller coaster and how to process it. So where did all this start? Like, how did you get involved in racing?

Really, you know, I grew up around racing. I grew up at Myrtle Beach Speedway, which is super cool. I actually got to race. Yeah, I actually got to race. We got to race there the last year before they closed it down. Really? So it was super cool to do that and I actually got to race with my grandpa. So that was really cool.

So I'm the fourth generation to race. I grew up at a racetrack since I was born. My dad actually took me to a go-car track when I was four years old. And we just kind of hit it off in there. And he was still racing at that time. And he kind of just set everything to the side for me and really pushed me. And I got hooked up with Jonathan Cash, which actually ran the modified race this weekend. He was there, so that was pretty cool to take that picture together. And actually,

Linen Huffman, Lain and S. Huffman, which we said on the front row with him, I was teammates with him for a long time. Really? I was super close with Shane Huffman and that whole group. So it was pretty cool to kind of relive that moment of being on the front row together. So race go-karts for a long time. And he finally told my dad, like, hey, it's time to move him on up. Like, I think he's got it. And we went up here, actually, to do a banquet for one of the races we won. And My dad, we're driving, he's like, I'm like, dad, where are we going? He's like, oh, we got to go get something. I'm like, okay, we pull down this hill, and there's this little house on top of the hill,

and there's this garage at the bottom of hill. I'm like, where are we at? He's like, oh, I got to pick up something. Okay, he's like, get out of the truck, so I walk in there, and it's Ron. Hornaday. And I'm like, this is freaking cool. Like, why are we here, dad? And he's like, well, see that modified right there?

I'm going to buy it, and you're going to go to dirt track, and we're going to how to dirt race. And I'm like, okay, this is pretty cool. Rahm was building dirt modifies at the time. He had a couple races going with Billy Workman, which is another mentor of mine. And Ron went to the first race. We didn't test.

We didn't do nothing. We just went to the racetrack. And Ron, Ron's like, if he's going to learn how to do it, he's going to learn how to do it in a race situation. So from that point on, Ron just stuck with me. And, you know, again, like he invited you into his house and you slept on the couch and all those famous stories that everyone's heard, he invited me in just like he did you.

And just became family to me. And that's kind of how this whole, process has worked. And then we went legend car racing with Joe Ryan, which is now his son-in-law. And it was super cool to do that. Won some races. And that's kind of honestly how I got hooked up with you. You know, Ron, I guess, talked to you about Keeling in the Legend Car. And we went to Anderson first time, went testing with him. And we just kind of hit it off from there. And we started racing Legend Cars a lot. And won a couple of a couple of races and did very well. That's pretty. I think that's underdoing it a little bit. I got to keep a

couple hundred maybe. Keep it below ground. But won a couple races with the Legend Car stuff, and that's what led to the late models and started working there. And I remember my first day at KHA in the race shop. Joe sent me a text message that morning. He's like, hey, you know, thank you for everything you did for me because I worked there full time as well. And I was getting homeschooled at the time. So you worked. Did you live with them?

I live with Joe for a long time. And I still live with Candace. And I worked for Joe for five years and learn how to work on those things. And I remember my first day, one of my first days. I destroyed a car, and he's like, listen, you're going to learn how to fix this thing. So he made me strip the car all the way down. It took me two weeks to build this thing. It took me two weeks.

Now I can build it in a couple days. But it took me two weeks to do it. And from that point on, I learned how to put every bolt, every nut on that race car. And that's what taught me. It's the same thing to happen with the late model stuff. I just learned how to build them. And now I can kind of do it without any help, which is super cool to, you know, know that. Yeah.

Well, it's a, it's rare. today's world that the driver knows how to build the whole car. So I think that when you know how to put them all together, you can definitely relate to things a lot better. So that is a, that is a good thing. And I think that was good on your dad and Hornaday and all of them for making you work and all that stuff. Yeah. And it's the same thing like we're trying to teach Keelan, right? I mean, Keelan, he had that, he had that big wreck out in Vegas and he was at the shop working and learning how to work on his race car and fix it. And that's something that when he comes to the shop, it's not just picking up the broom like any other typical new employee. We, uh,

We try to get him in there and get a little grease on his hands. So it's cool to share that as well. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Or on the dirt bike. What's next? I know we're going to run some late model stock races together. What's next for you? Yeah. So we actually just signed a contract two weeks ago to go truck racing. So I'm going to go truck racing with these motorsports. I have 15 races with them. And I get to share the truck with two cup guys.

So I think that'll be really cool for me. learn from those guys. And I'm just, I think that's really why I was just so emotional, really, all day on Saturday, because I knew, I'm kind of getting emotional right now talking about it. Don't know that. You should be happy. I am. I'm very happy. Inside, I'm happy. But I think that was why I was so emotional at the racetracks, because I knew that was kind of my last full-time season with you guys. And, you know, like you said, we're going to run a couple races next year together. But we're going to go truck racing next year and try to, you know, learn something new. Again.

Again, it's a steady work. You know, you have to keep working. And I'm excited to get over to Nice Motorsports with Cody and all the guys and just start learning as much as possible. And next process is learn how to build a truck. And that's my next thing. I want to learn how to do that because I want to be right there with all my guys throughout this next year's season and learn how to fix them, learn how to work on them. and all this thing. So super excited for that.

Well, you're another graduate of the Cars Tour to be able to win light metal stock races and get your next opportunity in the truck series in a national touring division. But, you know, when I think of Nees Motorsports and I look at the opportunities that they have given up-and-coming drivers, I mean, it's very unique.

I mean, Al has always kind of had that knack for being able to put drivers in. obviously ownership group, you know, is a little bit different than what it was in the past, but still giving kids the opportunity to come in there and earn it. And it fits right in with who you are as a person. But that's been the backbone of Neas Motorsports for a number of years, giving kids the opportunity to go out there and show who they are to get to the next step. Yeah, I think that's one of the main reasons why I'm super excited to get over there.

just because, like you talked about, they give people shots that, you know, don't have the money, don't have all this stuff to bring to the table. They do that for kids like that. And we talk about Carson Josevar, Ross Chastain, all those guys that have graduated out of that truck deal and have went on to do big and better things.

And I'm hoping I'm one of those guys eventually. It's just, I remember my first time really talking to Cody at Darlington, actually, after the night we won Florence. I stay with Rodney in the motorhome and actually got to go and watch the truck race. And I talked to the Cody and he's like, listen, the biggest thing is we're not the big flashy team that, you know, have all these nice things. He goes, we're just hardworking country boys that want to win races and do well.

And I'm like, I think this is where I want to belong. Because that's how, you know, we are as a group. You know, we take pride and our late model side of it and we make sure everything's as nice as possible. And I think that's what they do over there. So I'm super excited to get over. Well, and Ross Chastainian has been a huge supporter of yours. And, you know, I think when, when, you know,

you look at work ethic. I mean, you talk about the work ethic that comes with Nice Motorsports, but when you look at work ethic, Ross Chastain will outwork anybody. You look at the way that he got to where he is. It's obviously not a normal path, but he earned every piece of it. But being around Ross and seeing the time and effort that he puts into what he does in the cup car on and off the racetrack, you know, I think that that is going to be, you know, a great person to, to be around it at Nice because he's been, he's been, he's been, he's been in the trenches. He's been at the top. And so, you know, I think that that, that whole environment fits you well. So congratulations on that. You've, you've earned every, every piece of that. So it'll be,

it'll be a fun year. We're still going to run some, still going to run some light on stock races. Yeah. Looking forward to that. And I think that, you know, the, you know, the, great part about what you do. You've also been coach. You've coached. You've helped Keelan every step of the way in what he's done. But it's not just Keelan. I mean, you've been in, you've been in that legend car, you know, pit area helping and coaching. And even when you wanted to be out there racing, you were the guy over there helping everybody else. I watched you last weekend, come over and bring the laptop and stick it inside Isaac Kitzmiller's car to show him what he needed to do better on the racetrack. And that quality.

that you have to be able to go out and help people also teaches you a lot about what you need to do as a driver because you see things. And some of the best things that you can do come outside of the driver's seat. Yeah. And I think that you spend a lot of time doing that as well. Yeah. I mean, I do spend a lot of time helping all the kids. And, you know, obviously we can talk about Keelan. I was super excited. I was nervous watching his race. I was more nervous watching him win that race last this past weekend than I was before I got my race. Yeah. And I just, I get. I, get so much joy from helping kids and watching them succeed and seeing the look on their faces when they get out and they're all pumped up. Like that's a cool moment for me. And, you know,

I feel like I learn a lot from being on the outside sometimes. For sure. And just like you said, I think a lot of it too is, you know, kids and all these kids nowadays, they think of things way differently than what, you know, some people do. And everyone thinks a little bit different and how they approach things. But it's helped me learn how to approach things differently and how to kind of slow down for a minute and be like, oh, you know, I can tell this kid that, but I actually, I'm doing the same thing. So I got to be careful on what I say here. So it's super cool. And I get a lot of joy and emotion from it, being able to spot for Keenlin a couple of times and being a spotter. And then actually was at the summer shootout this year and had six kids. And I just worked on them.

And we actually almost won the championship and one of my kids won six races. So it was super cool to be a part of. And I just get a, I get a bunch of joy inside just watching the kids do well. Yeah. Well, there's a lot of different aspects to our wonderful world of racing. And the more that you know about each one of those different aspects, you've had to sell the sponsorship, you've had to coach the kids, you've had to drive the car, you've had to drive across the country at night. So you've earned everything that you're going to get with this truck opportunity. And I'm looking forward to watching you evolve and do exactly what you did in our car. And in the legend car, you just, you watch.

You learn, you grow, and do those things. So last question. What was the first car you ever drove? Well, I have a truck that is still my first truck. I'm only 19. You're all in the first one still. Yeah, I'm still on the first one. So it's probably a little different than some of the people you get here.

You never know what you're going to hear. I got a GMC truck that I drive, but I actually just got a beater. It's a Honda Civic. And I actually enjoy driving that thing more than I do my truck. It gets 35 miles a gallon. I get 500 miles, and I fill it up for $30 on 93 every week, or every two weeks. So I'm in the saving money part right now. And honestly, I enjoy driving that thing around town and give...

What are you saving for? I don't know. I just... I'm very cheap when it comes to things, and I don't like spending money. Even when you make it, live like you're poor for about the first five years. That way you forget about the money that you made. Yeah, I enjoy. I don't really care what people think about me, what I drive.

I just, at the end of the day, I'm getting to race. I'm getting to do the things that every kid dreams about. and it's just super cool to do. And like you said, the truck deal is going to be something pretty cool for me next year and just going to have to get back to work like I did this year and just keep digging at it and put everything I got into making it work and be successful and hopefully move up. Well, congratulations on everything, the championship, the truck ride,

everything that you've got going on right now. And I appreciate you taking the time today. Yeah, thank you for having me. It's pretty cool to do.