It’s becoming a familiar sight.
All of it.
Landen Lewis wins a race.
There is extra gratitude towards Rodney Childers.
They spend all night getting torn down in post-race technical inspection.
But this victory, the fourth for the Kevin Harvick Inc. No. 29 in CARS Tour competition this season, was additionally special for numerous reasons. They wrestled away the championship lead from Connor Hall with their 1-2 finish at Florence Motor Speedway, a track Lewis considers his home, while also responding to a summer of scrutiny.
You see, with each additional victory this season, CARS Tour responds with an even more immersive post-race teardown. Even as Lewis crossed the line, someone keyed up over their radio and alluded to having this engine torn down after the same process took place at Anderson two weeks ago too.
Basically, the KHI team keeps winning and the internet has things to say, and Lewis and Co. keep winning despite increased scrutiny.
“We like when we get torn down like this because honestly, and I’m saying this in a polite way, it shuts everyone up and I like that,” Lewis said. “I want them to know that we’re 100 percent legal and they just need to get to work.
“Like, I’m not being cocky when I say that but we put our work in and the results show that.”
Lewis has gained 13 points on Hall over the past two weeks and the JR Motorsports driver visibly wore a little of that frustration upon exiting the car. It’s the third year in a row that he has chased this championship, with three different teams, and he is once again in a dogfight in pursuit of the title.
“Like last year, I was like three points or something, so that’s obviously in the back of my head,” Hall said. “I don’t want history to repeat itself and it just seems like this CARS Tour thing has just eluded me. … I just want to right my wrongs and go and win races and the championship.”
This particular duel between the two saw both lead laps and battled for the lead on a restart with 32 laps to go. Lewis passed on the outside and had conviction that he could make it work without burning up his tires.
“I know the top’s better, but I don’t want to make my bed up there too fast and I went up there, took the lead, got to the bottom, and I was only like half a tenth better when I would hit my marks perfectly and it was just enough to keep him right there behind me.
“I was like, I got to go to the top and I went to the top and just managed by lead.”
Upon climbing out in Victory Lane, Lewis sprayed his crew but Rodney Childers ran away but was chased down in turn.
Why?
“He doesn’t like to be in the middle of everything and obviously does likes getting his picture taken like everyone does, but he stays away from everything and I just wanted to kind of show him that I appreciate him,” Lewis said. “He’s just been such a huge help in my life and my career. Yesterday, it was a tough day, and I didn’t know what to think mentally. I was just all over the place.
“We didn’t know what to do with the car. He sat me down and we had a really good conversation. Tonight, I get to stay with him at the motor home in Darlington, at the Truck race. I’m just really grateful for him.”
CARS Tour CookOut 125
Florence Motor Speedway
Ausgust 29 2025
Landen Lewis
Landon Huffman
Jared Fryar
Chase Burrow
Connor Hall
Mini Tyrrell
Tristan McKee
Kade Brown
Parker Eatmon
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Donovan Strauss
Lanie Buice
Ronnie Bassett Jr.
Doug Barnes Jr.
Carson Loftin
Thomas Beane
Brandon Pierce
Conner Jones
Gary Greenwood Jr.
Jake Bollman
Ryan Howard
Taylor Satterfield
Ralph Carnes
Neil Meredith
Riley Gentry
Jeremy Burns
David Roberts
Ryan Wilson
