SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Rette Jones Racing Development and Austin Theriault Racing Development jointly announced today that 15-year-old Landen Lewis will make his ARCA Menard Series debut in the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Aug. 22.
Lewis will drive the No. 2 L&A South|Lou Lou’s Waterfront Restaurant Toyota Camry prepared by RJR Development.
Lewis graduates to the ARCA Menards Series on the strength of a successful career in Legends Cars, Super Trucks and Dirt Modified competition. In Legend Car competition, the teenager has 22 series victories. He is also the most recent Winter Heat champion winning nine of 10 races.
Lewis advanced to dirt modifieds driving for four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. Under his leadership, Lewis has mastered five poles, six victories, eight-second place runs and 27 top-fives.
Lewis is banking on his experience in dirt modifieds to help ease his transition to stock cars on dirt at the historic mile Illinois State Fairgrounds with advice not only from Hornaday but racing icon Ken Schrader, a former ARCA Menards Series winner at Springfield and close friend of Hornaday.
“This is such an unbelievable opportunity,” said Lewis. “I can’t thank Rette Jones Racing, Austin (Theriault), the Hornaday family, Mr. Ken Schrader and everyone who has been incredibly helpful and instrumental in helping make my ARCA Menards Series debut possible. I don’t know what to expect on Sunday, but I have a ton of confidence thanks to all the advice from everyone around me. My goal is to have a smooth practice and an even better qualifying session and make progress during the 100-lap race.”
Hornaday, a former winner in ARCA Menards Series competition says Lewis is ready for the opportunity that awaits him at the Springfield mile.
“I have been working with Landen since he was 12 and he reminds me a lot of myself when I was that young,” said Hornaday. “He’s ambitious and eager to learn and always excels when given a new challenge. It’s awesome to work with Landen.
Theriault who has taken on a management role with Lewis is a former ARCA champion and earned a pole at Springfield in 2017 before finishing second to fellow ARCA champion Grant Enfinger.