15 Feb 2026 A 501 life in the fast lane
By Mark Oliver
While many people his age are slowing down, 61-year-old Keith Lawson is revving up for another season on the road, still chasing the feeling that hooked him as a kid on the dirt track.
His father, a local track champion, was the first hero he ever knew.
“My dad just passed away a few months ago,” he said. “He was really good. I watched him as a 7-year-old kid and he’s who inspired me to start racing.”
By the time he was 18, Lawson was behind the wheel at Centerville Super Speedway, racing against drivers he still remembers today.
“They’re all retired now, but I’m still going,” he chuckled.
Lawson’s early years on the circuit led to a lifetime of competition. He won the 1987 state 500 expert four-wheeler championship in Heber Springs, then returned to cars, where he amassed multiple racing achievements, including 35 wins from 2002-2005.
As the wins piled up, Lawson learned he loved building cars and developing drivers just as much as racing. “I always made sure I had the best drivers I could find,” he said. “I was blessed.”
Lawson’s drivers quickly redefined the sport. Charlie Armstrong won 42 races and two championships in Lawson’s cars. Curtis Cook, one of his favorites, delivered wins in both modifieds and late models. Drew Armstrong won 63 races and five championships, including the All-Star race in Boone, Iowa.
“We won 75 percent of the races we entered,” Lawson said. “It was crazy.”
In 2023, he faced a crossroads when he realized he couldn’t race like he used to.
“I wasn’t as comfortable behind the wheel as I used to be,” Lawson said. “Maybe it’s age, but I started thinking more about building and sponsoring cars than driving them.”
Then, the phone rang. On the other end was Billy “Mr. Smooth” Moyer Sr., 68, the most accomplished late model driver in dirt-track history.
“I’ll never forget that phone call,” Lawson said. “Billy heard I was looking for another driver. We worked out a deal and it took off from there.”
With Moyer at the wheel, Keith Lawson Motorsports recently capped a historic 2025 season. The team ran 47 races across 11 states, capturing three wins, 14 top-five finishes, 21 top-10 finishes and the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series Championship.
“Our drivers are something special to watch,” Lawson said. “We love them.”
Behind the scenes, Keith Lawson Motorsports runs like a well-oiled machine. Hall of Fame crew chief Steve Norris leads the technical side, while Bodee Branscum and Carla Rayburn help keep the cars competitive through a demanding travel schedule. Lawson’s wife, Elia, also plays a vital role, including managing the team’s fan-favorite merchandise trailer.
“My whole life is based on my wife,” he said. “She bosses me around sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
For Lawson, life in his 60s looks different than it did when he was a young racer fighting for every inch.
“There used to be so much pressure on me to be successful,” he said. “I had to win to make a living. I don’t feel the pressure anymore. I can finally just enjoy it and have fun.”
Over the years, what stands out the most to him isn’t the trophies, it’s the people. “When I go to a racetrack and everyone shakes my hand and knows my name, that’s what matters,” Lawson said. “Legendary driver Larry Shaw came to my trailer and asked to take a picture with me. I couldn’t believe it. I used to think that winning was what happened at the end of a race. Now I know this is what winning really looks like.”
The humility is what keeps Lawson grounded in Houston, where his family owns 500 acres along the Arkansas River, runs Lawson Farms and a construction business. At the center of it all is the race shop, where cars are torn down on Mondays, rebuilt by Wednesday and loaded up again on Thursday for another weekend on the road.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” Lawson said. “At the end of the day, you’re tired and dirty, but you go to sleep each night knowing you love what you do.”
Looking ahead, Keith Lawson Motorsports shows no signs of slowing down. Moyer returns to drive this season, and the team is now supporting a new generation of racers, including 6-year-old speedster Jett “Mr. Highside” Wall and 10-year-old sensation Bryer Rexwinkle. Drew Armstrong and sprint car driver Roger Crockett will also be racing Lawson-built cars.
Today, after 43 years in the sport, Lawson still feels like the kid who stood in the stands watching his dad and dreaming big. “We may be in our 60s, but we’re still kids at heart,” he said. “Even though our bodies say we’re not.”
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