GENERAL TIRE 200 at TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY: Team DK-LOK and Thomas “Moose” Praytor return to Sweet Home Alabama this weekend for the General Tire 200. “Growing up in Alabama it is always a dream come true to race at Talladega. So many great racers have been on this track and as a local short track racer, I’m just glad to be a part of it all,” said Praytor. “We have a lot of local support from Mobile for Talladega including the Mobile Realtors that have been with us for every Talladega Race, really proud of our Realtor family being behind us.” Moose heads outdoors in Talladega, onboard this weekend for the first time Dauphin Island, Alabama’s Gray Gulf Charters and The FeverBrand.com, Alabama’s premiere hunting and fishing clothier.
For the 5th year the Moose teams up with former teammate AJ McCarron to wear a special McCarron Alabama race helmet during the race. After the race the Moose will climb out of his DK-LOK Ford and deliver the helmet to the Alabama Institute of Deaf and Blind (AIDB) Race Fever. Both Praytor and McCarron will personalize the helmet for the auction winner.
The General Tire 200 is a 2 day event with technical inspection on Thursday, with all on track activity Friday. Practice, Ansell Qualifying will be followed by the Green Flag flying Friday afternoon at 5:00 PM CST. Live timing and scoring for practice, qualifying and the race will be on ARCAracing.com, Live TV coverage on Fox Sports 1.
Meet the Moose: Fans will get a chance to meet Thomas “Moose” Praytor Friday, during the Talladega “Open Garage” in the ARCA Garage from 11:30 -12:30 CST
PRIMARY SPONSOR: DK-LOK Fittings & Valves www.dklokusa.com, REALTORS
Talladega Tire Sponsors: Baptist Physical Therapy and Sportscare, John Thompson & Associates, Greer’s Food Market, Judy’s Place, Gray Gulf Charters
ASSOCIATE SPONSORS: Gray Gulf Charters, G-Force, Nudraulix, REALTOR, Advanced Collision, APS Automotive Painters Supply, Dueitt’s Battery Supply, Airgas, John Thompson & Associates, Judy’s Place, Greer’s Food Market, Campbell, Duke & Campbell, The Fever Brand, Golden Flake, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Praytor Realty
ARCA CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING: 8TH
CAR: Roush Chassis #184, Praytor has piloted #184 to his best Superspeedway performances over the last 4 seasons at Talladega and Daytona. This weekend Max Force Racing is utilizing Ilmore power under the hood.
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY TRACK SPECS: 2.66 miles
THOMAS “MOOSE” PRAYTOR: In 2015 Praytor completed his third consecutive season in the top 10 in the ARCA Championship standings, 8th in 2015, 7th in 2014 and 9th in his rookie season including collecting the AG Adcox Sportsmanship Award. Praytor made his first ARCA start in the inaugural ARCA-Mobile 200 at Mobile International Speedway in 2012. Prior to ARCA competition, the Moose started cutting his racing teeth at 8 years old on short tracks across the Southeast, racking up local and state titles along the way. The Moose and his Max Force Racing Team earned the Ironman Status of the Gulf Coast in 2011 for competing in every Late Model (Pro & Super) Race at Mobile International Speedway and Five Flags Speedway, finishing in the top 10 in the Championship standings at both tracks. Away from the track Praytor was one of AJ McCarron’s centers through grade school and high school winning a state title in 2007. For the last 4 years the duo have teamed up with a specially prepared McCarron replica racing helmet that Praytor wears then donates to the Alabama Institute of Deaf & Blind for their annual Race Fever auction. For more on the Moose- www.maxforceracing.com
MAX FORCE RACING: Max Force Racing is based out of Mobile, Alabama and is fielding cars in its 19th season of competition. In Daytona the team successfully fielded 2 cars for the first time with veteran Brad Smith behind the wheel. While campaigning the Moose in the #9 full time, team will field the #23 for Holmes/GMS racing in select events this season. Chase Storch will be making his first ARCA start for the team this weekend in Salem.
Pictures: DK-LOK Ford drafting at Daytona, 2015 McCarron Helmet.