In the tight-knit world of short-track racing, few stories capture the grind like Landen Lewis’s. The 19-year-old Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina native just completed a breakout year as the driver of the No. 29 Chevrolet. Lewis, who dominated the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car division this season with 4 wins in 15 starts as a driver of Kevin Harvick Inc. 

Harvick’s crew saw something special in Lewis from day one, blending his mechanical knowledge with his drive that kept the team firing on all cylinders. As whispers of bigger stages of opportunity swirl around Lewis, it’s clear this title is just the spark for what’s next. So, where is this kid taking his talents next season?

Kevin Harvick’s prodigy Landen Lewis lands partial Truck Series

Fresh off his CARS Tour triumph, Landen Lewis is stepping up to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, inking a part-time deal with Niece Motorsports. The announcement dropped Thursday via the team’s X post, complete with a slick graphic of Lewis in Niece gear.

NEWS: We’re Locked in with Lewis 🔒😃

Fresh off a @CARSTour Championship, @landenlewis99 will join Niece Motorsports for a partial @NASCAR_Trucks schedule in 2026!#PressTheAttack | #TeamChevy pic.twitter.com/CwEb8jN9Ch

— Niece Motorsports (@NieceMotorsport) October 23, 2025

At 19, Lewis now eyes learning the ropes in trucks, building crew chemistry while chasing those first big checks at places like Daytona. Lewis couldn’t hide his excitement about the opportunity. “I’m super excited to join Niece Motorsports in 2026 and look forward to having a solid year learning all I can,” he said. “I want to learn about these trucks and build chemistry with the entire crew. I can’t wait to get there and start working alongside everyone.”

Those words hit hard after his ’25 season, where he overcame mid-year slumps, like a rough 19th at Langley, to snag the title with 13 points to spare over Connor Hall. Backed by sponsors like NOCO and Goodyear, Lewis’s consistency (four wins, no DNFs in key races) proved he’s ready for trucks, where Niece’s underdog vibe matches his blue-collar roots from dirt ovals to ARCA starts in ’23.

Harvick, who’s watched Lewis evolve from Legends cars to champ, backed the fit without hesitation. “I just don’t think there are many kids that are left like Landen,” he shared post-title. “When you look at his work ethic, determination, and ability, and the sacrifices that he makes with his time, it’s contagious. It attracts people to him; it attracts sponsors, and it attracts everybody to want to support him.”

Kevin Harvick has no problem with finding gems, as he put KHI back only to give a shot to Lewis as a full-time driver. Such a jump in a daily shop as a mechanic and body guy made Lewis even more popular. And attracted veteran assistance such as Rodney Childers. This compliment and encouragement by the veterans, such as Harvick and Childers, highlights the reason why Niece believes that Lewis is their next riser. 

With Lewis gunning for truck glory, the Truck Series garage keeps buzzing with fresh faces chasing their shot.

Muniz bounces back, balances Trucks and ‘Malcolm’ reboot

The career of Frankie Muniz as a rookie truck driver with the Reaume Brothers Racing was full of twists like a Talladega draft. Muniz began his journey with a top-10 at Daytona but has encountered misfortunes, such as mechanical problems and a bizarre wrist break on a home ladder slip, missing four races as his bone healed up after surgery

Back at Talladega, he leaned into the downtime, tuning in on radio calls to get an idea about rival strategies. Now, with ’26 talks heating up alongside Ford ties, Muniz eyes more laps to sharpen his edge on ovals like Martinsville, where he got an unimpressive P33 earlier this season.

Juggling that with the Malcolm in the Middle reboot, filming in Vancouver through the April ’26 release, tested his limits, flying weekly for Friday races amid Sunday-to-Thursday shoots. “Yeah, we didn’t when we were filming. We raced every week,” Muniz recalled. “It was tough, because I was filming in Vancouver, flying Thursday to race Friday, and flying back Saturday to film Sunday through Thursday. It was a lot, but I did it.”

That grind sparked early slumps, but it taught him to prioritize racing over saying “yes” to every gig, echoing his pivot from acting to ARCA in ’23. Still, he calls the chaos a win: “You know, I actually—I’m not saying I enjoyed it—but I used it as a learning experience,” he said of sidelined weeks. “I got to listen in on the radio, hear other people give feedback… So I use it as a learning experience.”

With Reaume’s scrappy setup mirroring his underdog spirit, Muniz’s return could light up the series.