Thomas Praytor
Praytor in 2016
BornThomas Praytor IV
(1990-02-08) February 8, 1990
Mobile, Alabama
ARCA Menards Series career
113 races run over 11 years
ARCA no., teamNo. 9 (Max Force Racing)
Best finish5th (2016)
First race2012 Mobile ARCA 200 (Mobile)
Last race2022 General Tire 200 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 9 0
Statistics current as of February 1, 2020.

Thomas "Moose" Praytor IV (born February 28, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver who currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet for his family team, Max Force Racing.

Racing career

Praytor's No. 2 for Hixson Motorsports at Road America in 2013.
Praytor's No. 9 at Michigan in 2015.

Praytor started racing at eight years old in a borrowed yard kart from a family friend. He quickly progressed from karts to Bandoleros, where Praytor would drive one that was sponsored by The Outdoor Channel. He later began racing late models, running in the Southeast and picking up three US Army Rookie of the Year titles, local and state titles. Praytor and the Max Force Racing team earned the Ironman Status of the Gulf Coast competing in every Pro and Super Late Model Race at Mobile International Speedway and Five Flags Speedway while finishing in the top 10 of the Championship standings at both tracks.

Praytor made his first ARCA Racing Series start at the inaugural ARCA Mobile 200 at the Mobile International Speedway in 2012. He made later starts at Talladega Superspeedway and also saw starts with Venturini Motorsports. In the 2013 season, Praytor ran for rookie of the year as it was his first full season in ARCA. He drove the No. 2 Ford/Chevrolet for Hixson Motorsports and finished the season ninth in points and also earning the HG Adcox Sportsmanship Award.[1] Returning to the Hixson No. 2 in 2014, Praytor acquired sponsorship DK-LOK Fittings and Valves and ended the season eighth in points. Praytor was also named the Hard Charger Driver after the Herr's Chase the Taste 200 in Winchester. For the 2015 season, Praytor and his father Tommy started their team, Max Force Racing, which fielded the No. 9 DK-LOK Ford for Praytor, who would finish ninth in points. The team was named in memory of Thomas's brother Max, who died in June 2001.[2]

Praytor statistically had his best season in 2016. Competing in all 20 events and earning 4 top-10 finishes, he went on to finish 5th in season points. The following year, Praytor dropped to seventh in points, not earning a top-10 that year but still having a consistent season overall.

In 2018, the team would cut back their schedule, only running the first four races before taking a break. The team would return to field their No. 9 car for Jesse Iwuji at Chicago. Additionally, the Max Force team entered a second car at Daytona, the No. 99, for Ronnie Osmer.[3] Their only races in 2019 came at Talladega, where Praytor would finish 20th in the race. Their next race would not come until Daytona in 2020, where it was later revealed that they took most of the 2019 season off so Praytor could spend time with his newborn son, (Hugh) Thomas Praytor V.[4]

Personal life

Praytor and McCarron pose for a picture with Praytor's helmet that they would donate.

Praytor was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and is the son of local realtor and owner of Praytor Realty, Thomas ("Tommy") Praytor III, who also used to drive racecars.[2]

Praytor is nicknamed "Moose". The name derived from one of Praytor's first cars being sponsored by The Outdoor Channel and featuring a giant Moose coming out of the rear wheel well. When that paint scheme was run, the name "Thomas" above the window net on the car was changed to "Thomoose", which was later shortened to "Moose" and the nickname stuck. Every car Praytor has driven since then has had "Thomoose Praytor" above the window net.[2]

Praytor is a weekly host on the Inside ARCA Racing radio show on WNSP, a station in his home state of Alabama. Praytor's segment, the "Moose Call", is named after his nickname.[2]

In 2008, Praytor's team had a car for sale, which led to a partnership with Warner Brothers Pictures for the film series Final Destination's fourth installment, The Final Destination. Filmed at Mobile International Speedway, Praytor and fellow driver David Ellis worked as stunt drivers for the film.

During the 2013 season, Praytor joined up with Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback A. J. McCarron to design a McCarron replica helmet; Praytor wore the helmet at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega, after which it was donated to the Alabama Institute of the Deaf and Blind to benefit the annual Race Fever Action.

On May 9, 2022, it was revealed that Praytor was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. On lap 5 of the 2022 General Tire 200, Praytor lost movement in his left arm and leg. He would drive with his right hand, until the red flag came out with 10 laps to go. He went through a driver change, with Sean Corr taking over his car for the remaining 10 laps. Medical personnel removed Praytor from the car, where he was transported to the infield care center. He had flu-like symptoms just a few days prior to the race.[5]

Motorsports career results

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 AMSC Pts Ref
2012 Andy Belmont Racing 5 Ford DAY MOB
34		 SLM 58th 370 [6]
2 TAL
20		 TOL ELK POC MCH WIN NJE IRP IOW CHI POC BLN ISF
Venturini Motorsports 35 Chevy MAD
28
66 Toyota SLM
28		 DSF KAN
2013 Hixson Motorsports 2 Ford DAY
22		 TAL
22		 POC
16		 MCH
10		 CHI
23		 KEN
19		 KAN
19		 9th 4210 [7]
Dodge MOB
16		 SLM
21
Chevy TOL
18		 ELK
10		 ROA
16		 WIN
9		 NJE
17		 POC
24		 BLN
18		 ISF
22		 MAD
14		 DSF
20		 IOW
21		 SLM
17
2014 DAY
31		 TAL
22		 NJE
15		 ELK
15		 WIN
12		 ISF
15		 MAD
13		 DSF
13		 7th 3950 [8]
Ford MOB
11		 SLM
11		 TOL
21		 POC
13		 MCH
14		 CHI
18		 IRP
16		 POC
16		 BLN
20		 SLM
13		 KEN
21		 KAN
20
2015 Max Force Racing 9 DAY
24		 MOB
7		 NSH
10		 SLM
15		 TAL
20		 TOL
16		 NJE
15		 POC
16		 MCH
17		 CHI
21		 WIN
15		 IOW
18		 IRP
19		 BLN
18		 ISF
16		 DSF
13		 SLM
18		 KEN
16		 KAN
14		 8th 3930 [9]
12 Chevy POC
28
2016 9 Ford DAY
14		 NSH
18		 SLM
17		 TAL
16		 TOL
14		 NJE
21		 POC
20		 MCH
14		 MAD
9		 WIN
11		 IOW
15		 IRP
15		 POC
21		 BLN
8		 ISF
8		 DSF
9		 SLM
14		 CHI
15		 KEN
14		 KAN
15		 5th 4055 [10]
2017 DAY
29		 NSH
28		 SLM
14		 TAL
12		 TOL
14		 ELK
15		 POC
24		 MCH
19		 MAD
13		 IOW
18		 IRP
17		 POC
22		 WIN
14		 ISF
13		 ROA
19		 DSF
11		 SLM
16		 CHI
30		 KEN
14		 KAN
20		 7th 3790 [11]
2018 Chevy DAY
14		 TAL
21		 TOL CLT POC MCH MAD GTW CHI IOW ELK POC ISF BLN DSF SLM IRP KAN 37th 560 [12]
Ford NSH
18		 SLM
19
2019 Chevy DAY FIF SLM TAL
20		 NSH TOL CLT POC MCH MAD CHI GTW ELK IOW POC ISF DSF SLM IRP KAN 77th 130 [13]
2020 DAY
11		 PHO TAL POC IRP KEN IOW KAN TOL TOL MCH DAY GTW L44 TOL BRI WIN MEM ISF KAN 60th 33 [14]
2021 DAY PHO TAL
17		 KAN TOL CLT MOH POC ELK BLN IOW WIN GLN MCH ISF MLW DSF BRI SLM KAN 101st 27 [15]
2022 DAY PHO TAL
19		 KAN CLT IOW BLN ELK MOH POC IRP MCH GLN ISF MLW DSF KAN BRI SLM TOL 104th 25 [16]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

  1. ↑ Inabett, Mark (December 17, 2013). "Just being myself: Thomas 'Moose' Praytor wins ARCA sportsmanship award". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Home". Max Force Racing. Praytor Properties. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Race Car Ronnie: Pearl River teen on track to race with the best". CBS 4 WWL. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Praytor(s) Ready for Daytona". ARCARacing.com. January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Praytor Diagnosed With Rhabdomyolysis". Speedway Digest. May 9, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2019 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2020 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2021 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Thomas Praytor – 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
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