Landon’s Story

Landon Brown Racing LLC is a professional motorsports program based in Louisville, Kentucky, centered around 20-year-old driver Landon Brown.

Landon currently competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Kimmel Racing while continuing his development through pavement short-track competition in the United States Speed Association Kenyon Midget Series.

His path to this point did not begin with a major team or a long family history in racing. It began as something much simpler — a father-and-son hobby that grew into a serious racing journey.

How It Started

Landon’s racing journey began when a new indoor go-kart facility opened near Bachman Chevrolet in Louisville, where his father, Phil, has worked for 25 years. Phil started going regularly, and Landon, who was about 7 years old at the time, would occasionally come along to watch.

Eventually, Landon wanted to try it for himself.

It did not take long for the racing bug to bite. What started as casual fun quickly became something more competitive as Landon continued to improve. He and Phil eventually joined a karting league together, with Landon racing in his class and Phil racing in his own.

From there, racing became more than a weekend activity. It became something they learned together, step by step.

Early Development

As Landon became more competitive, the next step was dirt oval kart racing. With help from the Mack family, Sam Price, and other racing families along the way, Landon and Phil began learning the mechanical, setup, and preparation side of the sport.

They did not come from a racing background, so every step required listening, learning, and doing the work.

After gaining experience in dirt karts, Landon moved into asphalt sprint-style karting at New Castle Motorsports Park. For five years, New Castle became a major part of his development. The track was about two and a half hours from home in Louisville, which made racing anything but convenient.

But the long drives, early mornings, late nights, and weekends spent together became priceless.

At New Castle, Landon became more driven, more competitive, and more focused on the details required to run at the front. He earned several wins, multiple pole positions, scored podium finishes, and consistently became a contender against strong competition.

During those karting years, Landon and Phil also attended the Skip Barber Racing School at Virginia International Raceway, an experience that helped sharpen their understanding of car control, technique, and racecraft.

Moving Into Kenyon Midgets

After five years of sprint kart racing, Landon and Phil learned about the Kenyon Midget Series. They did not know much about the cars at the time, but as they had done before, they decided to dive in and learn.

The Browns purchased two Kenyon Midgets, with the original plan for both Landon and Phil to race. The cars were faster, more powerful, and a major step up from karting.

After a brief adjustment period, Landon quickly adapted. Phil raced alongside him briefly, including one memorable race where he ran directly behind Landon for the entire event. Not long after, Phil’s engine failure and fire ended his own midget racing plans, shifting the full focus of the program toward Landon’s development.

That decision helped shape the future of Landon Brown Racing.

Becoming a Contender

The first Kenyon season was a learning year, but the program took a major step forward when Jeff Hill invited Landon to race with the Jeff Hill Trailer Sales team.

With added transport, mechanical support, and setup help from Dave Simmermon and the team, Landon became much more competitive. The structure and teamwork helped him grow quickly, and he earned Rookie of the Year honors in both the Kenyon Midget Series and from HARF, the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans organization.

During the offseason, Landon competed in the indoor Rumble at Fort Wayne, where a serious crash resulted in fractures in his neck and back. The injury forced a long recovery and delayed the start of his next Kenyon season.

After rehab, Landon returned to racing through the Lucas Oil School of Racing Formula Car Series, where he was competitive immediately, earning two top-five finishes and three top-ten finishes in a three-race weekend.

When he returned to the Kenyon Midget, his rebuilt car and renewed focus helped produce a breakthrough season.

At Kalamazoo Speedway, after struggling there the year before, Landon qualified fast time, set a new track record, and earned his first Kenyon Midget victory. That win was followed by more victories, more fast times, and consistent front-running performances.

Landon had become a driver to watch.

The ARCA Opportunity

One of Landon’s important home-area races came at the Sportsdrome in Clarksville, Indiana, where many family members were able to attend and support him. That event also helped reconnect the Lentini side of Landon’s family with long-time friends the Kimmels who were able to see Landon compete in person.

That connection eventually led to visits to the Kimmel Racing shop, a trip to Daytona to watch the team at work, and the beginning of an opportunity to work together.

Today, Landon Brown Racing and Kimmel Racing are building a part-time ARCA Menards Series program — a step that was never part of the original plan when Landon and Phil first walked into an indoor karting facility years earlier.

But through every stage of the journey, the next step kept appearing.

Education and Engineering Mindset

Away from the racetrack, Landon is currently pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Kentucky.

A proud graduate of Trinity High School, Landon earned Dean’s List honors and continues to bring discipline, focus, and accountability into both school and racing.

His engineering background gives him a strong appreciation for the technical side of motorsports. Whether it is understanding setup changes, reviewing data, communicating feedback, or preparing for the next event, Landon approaches racing with a thoughtful and analytical mindset.

That combination of driver feel, technical curiosity, and work ethic continues to shape his growth behind the wheel.

Family Foundation

While Landon’s racing journey did not begin with a family history in motorsports, it has always been supported by a strong family foundation.

Landon is the son of Phil Brown and Sonya Lentini, and the grandson of Sonny and Juanita Lentini, of the Lentini’s Little Italy Restaurant family in Louisville. He is also the grandson of Orville and Lydia Brown from Cedar Rapids, IA.

That family support, work ethic, and sense of community have played an important role in Landon’s development both on and off the racetrack.

The Mission

Landon Brown Racing started as a way for a father and son to spend time together around a sport they loved.

It grew into something much bigger.

There was no family racing history, no shortcut, and no clear roadmap. Just a shared passion, a strong family foundation, thousands of miles on the road, long weekends at racetracks, and the determination to keep learning.

Today, Landon Brown Racing is focused on growth, performance, professionalism, and long-term success in motorsports. The mission is to continue developing as a driver, compete at higher levels, and represent partners, supporters, family, and community with integrity.

From indoor go-karts to the ARCA Menards Series, Landon’s story is still being written.

Every race is another step forward.