'Big R': Ransomville's Steve Lewis Jr. returns to Daytona

Submitted by Ransomville Speedway

Ransomville’s Steve Lewis Jr. will be returning to the ARCA Menards Series in 2024, including the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16. 

“If everything goes right and the car is kept clean after Daytona, we will also run Talladega in April,” Lewis said.

If Talladega goes well and the car remains in one piece, Steve Jr. potentially will add Michigan to his ARCA race schedule. 

Crewing for Steve will be his dad, former Ransomville King of the Hill winner and former racer Steve Lewis. Other crew members include Shawn, Mike and Kyle Jeffery, plus Pat Seeley, Jarrret Jonston, Brian Beauman, Bryant Potts, Matt Veihdeffer and Greg Martin. 

Sponsoring the No. 62 will be Telco Construction, Jeffery Machine, No Hugs Raceway, Jowdy Consulting, JW Swanson & Associates, and Advanced Design Group. The marketing partners on the Lewis racing entry have been longtime supporters of Ransomville Speedway. 

Steve would also like to thank Jeff Anstett for all the social media page work that he does. 

You may be asking yourself, why does Steve run the No. 62 in ARCA and the family-known No. 11 on the Modified?

“We had Mark Schulz coming to Daytona to help us during testing in 2023 and the No. 62 was available when ARCA gave me a list of numbers to choose from,” Lewis said. “With Mark running 62 for his career and with him helping us, I figured that we’ll run his number.” 

Steve’s 2024 plans include running in the 358 Modified division at Ransomville Speedway.

“We will be competing at Ransomville as much as we can plus travel with the small block,” Lewis said.

His plans also include running at Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway in October.

Sponsoring the 358 Modified will be JW Swanson & Associates, Heinz Tree and Lawn Services, Johnston’s Restaurant, and Jeffery Machine. 

Lewis’s goals for Daytona will be getting a top 10 finish and improve on his 13th place finish from last February. Steve was able to stay in the lead draft for most of the race and, even with missing the preseason testing in mid-January, he said he hopes the car is just as fast as the last time he was on a Super Speedway.

“I feel confident about bringing a good piece to Daytona based off when we went out at Talladega,” Lewis added. 

You can watch Steve and the rest of the ARCA Menards Series field, including WNY racer Andy Jankowiak and former Pro Stock competitor Sean Corr, in their opening race at Daytona on Friday, Feb. 16, following the completion of the NASCAR Truck Series event.