AJ McCarron and Praytor at 2013 ARCA Mobile 200 with McCarron Helmet
photo by Ashley Rowe
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip and Praytor auctioning off McCarron Helmet at last year’s AIDB Race Fever
photo by Ashley Rowe
Al Del Greco and Praytor racing ice chest at the Speed Dome in 2013
photo by Ashley Rowe
AJ McCarron has been named the Grand Marshall of the ARCA Mobile 200 and Thomas “Moose” Praytor will race a McCarron helmet at Mobile International Speedway and then donate it to the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blinds (AIDB) Race Fever at the SPEED Channel Dome at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega Superspeedway.
This is the second year for Praytor and McCarron to team up for AIDB but it’s not the first time they were teammates. The duo played together at St. Paul’s High School in Mobile, Alabama winning a State Title in 2007.
“The Moose and his helmet were a big hit last year and we’re looking forward to having them back,” said Jessica Parker, Assistant Director of Development AIDB. “Football is big in Alabama and we are known for unique auction items it doesn’t get any better than this.”
"Race Fever is one of the coolest events during Aarons Dream Weekend at Talladega. The fans are incredible, the kids are awesome and I’m looking for an Ice Chest rematch with Al Del Greco!” offered Praytor. The Moose lost a head to head motorized ice chest race with Del Greco last year. “Friday nights Race Fever is not just the place to be at Talladega it’s a great way to give back."
AIDB Race Fever is Friday May 2, with the doors opening at 5 p.m., tickets are available at www.racefever.org.
The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 is part of a triple header Saturday of Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway May 3 and 4. The race will be broadcast live on Speed TV and hosted on radio by Thunder 92.7 at 10:00 AM CST. The radio broadcast along with timing and scoring will be streamed live on www.arcaracing.com.
The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind is the nation’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation and employment system serving children and adults who are deaf, blind and multidisabled with a myriad of programs designed just for them. For more than a century and a half, AIDB has been investing in the lives of thousands of infants, toddlers, children, adults and seniors who are challenged by hearing and vision loss. With five campuses and eight regional centers throughout Alabama, AIDB’s business is personal.
Praytor is coming off a stellar Rookie season that should have been only three races but under the watchful eye of veteran ARCA car owner Wayne Hixson turned into a full season. The Moose finished ninth in the Championship standings and collected the AG Adcox Sportsmanship Award in 2013. Along the way the all volunteer team collected 3 top 10s, was the second driver in the Fast Track Driver Challenge, third in the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award, fourth in the S & S Volvo Laps Completed Award and fourth in the Scotts Rookie Challenge. In 2012, Moose made his first ARCA start in the inaugural ARCA-Mobile 200 at Mobile International Speedway. He also raced in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega with Andy Belmont Racing and rounded out the season with a couple of starts for Venturini Motorsports.
The Moose started cutting his racing teeth at eight 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. In 2013 the duo teamed up donating a specially prepared McCarron replica racing helmet that Praytor wore at Daytona and Talladega to the Alabama Institute of Deaf & Blind for their annual Race Fever auction. For more on the Moose- www.maxforceracing.com.