Thomas Praytor

Early career

Praytor started racing at eight-years old in a borrowed yard kart from a family friend. Karts quickly progressed to Bandoleros and Praytor was wheeling an Outdoor Channel-sponsored car. 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 standing at both tracks.

ARCA Racing Series

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, Max Force Racing teamed up with Hixson Motorsports to field cars for Praytor. During the 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. Praytor finished the season ninth in points and earned the HG Adcox Sportsmanship Award. 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.

Personal life

Praytor was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1990. Praytor is the son of local realtor and owner of Praytor Realty, Tommy Praytor.

Praytor is nicknamed "Moose". The name derived from one Praytor's first cars being sponsored by the Outdoor Channel and featuring a giant Moose coming out of the rear wheel well. On the roof, "Thomas" was changed to "Thomoose", which was later shortened to Moose and the nickname stuck. While the Outdoor Channel Bandolero was a long time ago every car Praytor has driven since then has had “Thomoose Praytor” on the roof.

Media work

Praytor is a weekly host on the Inside ARCA Racing radio show on WNSP. 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 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.