The 2025 zMAX CARS Tour season concluded with a thrilling finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where young talents and seasoned veterans clashed in a battle of speed, strategy, and sheer determination. Caden Kvapil and Keelan Harvick emerged as race winners, but the real story lies in the championship triumphs of Landen Lewis and Ben Maier, whose journeys were anything but straightforward. But here's where it gets controversial... While Lewis’s victory was celebrated, some fans argue that his win was as much about team support as it was about his skill. Do you think Lewis’s championship is a testament to his talent, or was it heavily influenced by the resources and guidance of Kevin Harvick Inc.? Let’s dive in.
The Rise of Landen Lewis: A Tale of Perseverance and Growth
Landen Lewis entered the 2025 season as a relative newcomer, with only a handful of starts and a single victory under his belt from his part-time stint in 2024. His focus wasn’t just on winning a title but on mastering the art of racing against some of the toughest short-track competitors in the nation. Lewis and Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) had a slow start, but back-to-back victories at Ace Speedway and North Wilkesboro in the spring signaled a turning point. And this is the part most people miss... Despite his early wins, Lewis struggled with consistency mid-season, raising doubts about his championship prospects. With mentorship from Kevin Harvick and Ron Hornaday, Jr., Lewis recalibrated his approach, showcasing remarkable poise in the season’s latter half. Victories at Anderson and Florence solidified his lead, ultimately securing the Late Model Stock Car championship.
Lewis reflected on his journey, saying, “We’ve worked so hard as a group to get to where we are in two years. It’s one thing to talk about it, but it’s another thing to do it. At the beginning of the year, I thought we had a decent year going, but then we started winning races. I got too aggressive, making moves that weren’t ready to be made. Changing that attitude going into Anderson set our year up for where we’re at now.”
Kevin Harvick Inc.: A Team Reborn
After over a decade of dormancy, Kevin Harvick Inc. returned to full-time competition in 2024 with Toyota development driver Brent Crews. In 2025, the team threw their full support behind Lewis, who reciprocated by working tirelessly in the shop to build the championship-winning program. Harvick praised Lewis’s work ethic, saying, “That's the thing people don’t realize about Landen—he spends every day working on the car. When he goes home at night, he studies and learns how to drive. During the day, he’s a mechanic, a body hanger, and everything else in between. That's why all these people help him, because he’s just a good human.”
Connor Hall: The Runner-Up with a Champion’s Heart
Connor Hall finished as the championship runner-up for the third consecutive season, falling 13 points short of Lewis. Despite the loss, Hall remained gracious, stating, “Honestly, I’m not even as concerned with that. I got to live my dream, racing for a living. I was genuinely stuck back in Virginia, not knowing how to make this move happen, but I got the call from Dale, Kelley, and LW that brought it all together. I’m just super thankful.”
Caden Kvapil’s Historic Win
The Late Model Stock race on Saturday night was a nail-biter between Caden Kvapil and Landon S. Huffman, both seeking their first zMAX CARS Tour victory. On the final lap, Kvapil outmaneuvered Huffman in a thrilling side-by-side battle, securing his first win and joining his brother Carson as a North Wilkesboro victor for JR Motorsports. Kvapil celebrated, “It’s been a long time coming. To get my first win in the Late Model Stock division here at Wilkesboro, one of the most historic tracks, is really cool. To do it in the same car my brother won in three years ago is awesome.”
Keelan Harvick and Ben Maier: Pro Late Model Dominance
In the Pro Late Models, Keelan Harvick and Luke Baldwin engaged in an epic duel, with Harvick claiming his fourth victory of the season. Despite the loss, Baldwin secured the owners’ championship for Rick Ware Racing. Ben Maier, meanwhile, clinched the Pro Late Model driver’s championship through sheer consistency, leading the series in top-five and top-ten finishes despite not winning a single race. Maier reflected, “We’ve been super fast all year, and while we had some wins taken from us, the guys put in so much work. I’m very thankful for that.”
The Bigger Picture: A Series That Demands Respect
The zMAX CARS Tour is no walk in the park. As Rick Ware put it, “You come here, you’re gonna get your butt handed to you until you can get it figured out.” This season’s champions and race winners proved their mettle in a series that rewards skill, strategy, and resilience.
Final Thoughts: What’s Your Take?
As we celebrate the triumphs of Lewis, Kvapil, Harvick, and Maier, it’s worth asking: Is the zMAX CARS Tour becoming a proving ground for NASCAR’s next generation of stars? And more controversially, does team support overshadow individual talent in today’s racing landscape? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your perspective!
-Story by: Buddy Pulley
-Photo credit: Joshua White/CARS Tour
zMAX CARS Tour Championship Weekend Results
LMSC Results:
1. 8 Caden Kvapil
2. 28 Landon S. Huffman
3. 71 Parker Eatmon
4. 88 Connor Hall
5. 6B Brandon Lopez
...
28. 04 Ronnie Bassett Jr. – OUT
PLM Results:
1. 62 Keelan Harvick
2. 51 Luke Baldwin
3. 44 Conner Jones
...
23. 29 Kevin Harvick – OUT
Stay Connected:
Sign up for our free NASCAR & Grassroots racing newsletter to stay updated on all the action!
