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Thomas Praytor

{{short description|American racecar driver}}

{{Infobox NASCAR driver

| name = Thomas Praytor

| image = File:ThomasPraytor2016.jpg

| caption = Praytor in 2016

| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American

| birth_name = Thomas Praytor IV

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|2|28}}

| birth_place = Mobile, Alabama, U.S.

| related to =

| Total_ARCA_Races = 113

| Years_In_ARCA = 11

| ARCA_Car_Team =

| Best_ARCA_Pos = 5th (2016)

| First_ARCA_Race = 2012 Mobile ARCA 200 (Mobile)

| Last_ARCA_Race = 2022 General Tire 200 (Talladega)

| First_ARCA_Win =

| Last_ARCA_Win =

| ARCA_Wins = 0

| ARCA_Top_Tens = 9

| ARCA_Poles = 0

| updated = February 1, 2020

}}

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

Racing career

File:ARCA 2 pan Thomas Praytor Road America 2013.jpg in 2013.]]

File:Michiganlevinecrosby.jpg 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.{{cite news|last=Inabett|first=Mark|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/12/just_being_myself_thomas_moose.html|title=Just being myself: Thomas 'Moose' Praytor wins ARCA sportsmanship award|newspaper=The Birmingham News|date=December 17, 2013|accessdate=December 13, 2015}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.fatboysports.com/index.html |title=Home |website=Max Force Racing |publisher=Praytor Properties |accessdate=February 2, 2020}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/sports/race-car-ronnie-pearl-river-teen-on-track-to-race-with-the-best/289-521520362 |title=Race Car Ronnie: Pearl River teen on track to race with the best |website=CBS 4 WWL |date=February 21, 2018 |accessdate=February 1, 2020}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.arcaracing.com/2020/01/29/praytors-ready-for-daytona/ |title=Praytor(s) Ready for Daytona |website=ARCARacing.com |date=January 29, 2020 |accessdate=February 1, 2020}}

Personal life

File:Thomas Praytor AJ McCarron.jpg

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.

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.

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.

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.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/69415-praytor-diagnosed-with-rhabdomyolysis|title=Praytor Diagnosed With Rhabdomyolysis|website=Speedway Digest|date=May 9, 2022}}

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.)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| 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

! {{Tooltip|AMSC|ARCA Menards Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

rowspan=4| 2012

! rowspan=2| Andy Belmont Racing

! 5

! rowspan=2| Ford

| DAY

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MOB
34

| SLM

| colspan=18|

! rowspan=4| 58th

! rowspan=4| 370

! rowspan=4| {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2012/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

2

| colspan=3|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
20

| TOL

| ELK

| POC

| MCH

| WIN

| NJE

| IRP

| IOW

| CHI

| POC

| BLN

| ISF

| colspan=5|

rowspan=2| Venturini Motorsports

! 35

! Chevy

| colspan=16|

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MAD
28

| colspan=4|

66

! Toyota

| colspan=17|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SLM
28

| DSF

| KAN

rowspan=3| 2013

! rowspan=5| Hixson Motorsports

! rowspan=5| 2

! Ford

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY
22

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
22

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC
16

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH
10

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CHI
23

| colspan=8|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KEN
19

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KAN
19

! rowspan=3| 9th

! rowspan=3| 4210

! rowspan=3| {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2013/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

Dodge

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOB
16

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SLM
21

| colspan=18|

rowspan=2| Chevy

| colspan=4|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOL
18

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ELK
10

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROA
16

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| WIN
9

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NJE
17

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POC
24

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BLN
18

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ISF
22

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAD
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DSF
20

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IOW
21

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
17

| colspan=2|

rowspan=2| 2014

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
31

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAL
22

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NJE
15

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ELK
15

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WIN
12

| colspan=4|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ISF
15

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAD
13

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DSF
13

| colspan=4|

! rowspan=2| 7th

! rowspan=2| 3950

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2014/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

rowspan=2| Ford

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOB
11

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
11

|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TOL
21

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC
13

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH
14

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CHI
18

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP
16

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC
16

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BLN
20

| colspan=3|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
13

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KEN
21

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| KAN
20

|

rowspan=2| 2015

! rowspan=10| Max Force Racing

! 9

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY
24

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MOB
7

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NSH
10

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
15

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
20

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOL
16

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NJE
15

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC
16

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH
17

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CHI
21

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WIN
15

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IOW
18

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP
19

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BLN
18

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ISF
16

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DSF
13

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
18

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KEN
16

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KAN
14

|

! rowspan=2| 8th

! rowspan=2| 3930

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2015/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

12

! Chevy

| colspan=13|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC
28

| colspan=7|

2016

! rowspan=8| 9

! rowspan=2| Ford

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NSH
18

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
17

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
16

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOL
14

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NJE
21

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC
20

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH
14

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAD
9

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WIN
11

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IOW
15

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP
15

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POC
21

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BLN
8

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ISF
8

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DSF
9

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CHI
15

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KEN
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KAN
15

|

! 5th

! 4055

! {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2016/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

2017

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
29

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NSH
28

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
12

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOL
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ELK
15

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POC
24

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH
19

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAD
13

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IOW
18

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP
17

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POC
22

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| WIN
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ISF
13

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROA
19

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DSF
11

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
16

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CHI
30

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KEN
14

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KAN
20

|

! 7th

! 3790

! {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2017/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

rowspan=2| 2018

! Chevy

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
14

| colspan=2|

| style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| TAL
21

| TOL

| CLT

| POC

| MCH

| MAD

| GTW

| CHI

| IOW

| ELK

| POC

| ISF

| BLN

| DSF

| SLM

| IRP

| KAN

|

! rowspan=2| 37th

! rowspan=2| 560

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2018/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

Ford

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NSH
18

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM
19

| colspan=18|

2019

! rowspan=4| Chevy

| DAY

| FIF

| SLM

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
20

| NSH

| TOL

| CLT

| POC

| MCH

| MAD

| CHI

| GTW

| ELK

| IOW

| POC

| ISF

| DSF

| SLM

| IRP

| KAN

|

! 77th

! 130

! {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2019/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2019 ARCA Menards Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

2020

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
11

| PHO

| TAL

| POC

| IRP

| KEN

| IOW

| KAN

| TOL

| TOL

| MCH

| DAY

| GTW

| L44

| TOL

| BRI

| WIN

| MEM

| ISF

| KAN

|

! 60th

! 33

! {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2020/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2020 ARCA Menards Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

2021

| DAY

| PHO

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
{{small|17}}

| KAN

| TOL

| CLT

| MOH

| POC

| ELK

| BLN

| IOW

| WIN

| GLN

| MCH

| ISF

| MLW

| DSF

| BRI

| SLM

| KAN

|

! 101st

! 27

! {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2021/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2021 ARCA Menards Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

2022

| DAY

| PHO

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
{{small|19}}

| KAN

| CLT

| IOW

| BLN

| ELK

| MOH

| POC

| IRP

| MCH

| GLN

| ISF

| MLW

| DSF

| KAN

| BRI

| SLM

| TOL

|

! 104th

! 25

! {{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/praytth02/2022/A|title=Thomas Praytor – 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 10, 2023}}

{{sup|*}} Season still in progress

{{sup|1}} Ineligible for series points

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Racing-Reference driver|Thomas_Praytor}}
  • {{Racing-Reference crewchief|Thomas_Praytor}}

{{Max Force Racing}}

{{Hixson Motorsports}}

{{Venturini Motorsports}}

{{Andy Belmont Racing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Praytor, Thomas}}

Category:Living people

Category:ARCA Menards Series drivers

Category:1990 births

Category:Racing drivers from Alabama

Category:Sportspeople from Mobile, Alabama