Check out our driver spotlight on Brandon McReynolds!

Birthday: September 25, 1991
Birthplace: Kannapolis, NC
Height: 6’1
Weight: 180
Parents: Randy and Lisa
Brother: Casey
Hobbies: Racing, Working on Race Cars, Go-kart Racing, R/C Car Racing, Basketball, Hanging Out with the Field Fillers and Family
Fav Movie: Days of Thunder
Fav TV Show: Justified
Food: Anything that tastes good

Career Highlights:

1996 – 2005 - Kart Racing / 19 wins in a variety of races from dirt to asphalt

2003 – 2004 - INEX Bandolero / 12 wins. Summer Shootout Champion.
Competed in series races at tracks such as Concord Motorsports Park, Lowes Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

2005 - Legends Cars / 4 wins in 20 races in the Legends Semi-Pro Division.

2006 - Aaron’s Pro Challenge Series / 10 wins in 12 races at tracks including Bristol, Hickory, Southern National, South Boston, and Orange County.

2007 – 2009 - UARA-Stars Late Model Touring Series / 17 starts
1 win at Rockingham Speedway, 5 top 5’s, and 10 top 10’s.

2009 - NCWSE debut at Thompson Speedway, qualified 7th and ran in the top 5 prior to blowing up.

Carved out of “Days of Thunder” one liners and pure backyard fun Weekend Warriors TV takes you deep into the heart of Kannapolis, NC behind The Joie of Seating for the first annual Field Filler 400 Go-Kart Extravaganza! Our very own Brett Bortle will go head to head with drivers Brandon McReynolds, Corey LaJoie and even the elusive “Beaver Dragon”, and of course Brittany Lofton will be along side for all the action and trackside reporting. This is one episode you definitely don’t wanna miss and don’t forget to check out our driver spotlight on Corey LaJoie!

This Wednesday, July 21st, Weekend Warriors TV will proudly debut their latest project, a full-length music video featuring rising country star Tim Dugger, at Whisky River in uptown Charlotte. The event, which includes a two-hour set by Dugger, is set to kick off at 8 PM.

Weekend Warriors TV is the brain trust of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie Justin Lofton, his sister Brittany Lofton, and their business partner Brett Bortle. While Justin, the 2009 ARCA Racing Series champion, has made a name for himself behind the wheel of a racecar, Brittany honed her on-camera skills at the Carolina School of Broadcasting. Bortle, who serves as the show’s director, learned the ropes on the other side of the business, working within racing on the production side. The three got together last year, forming Weekend Warriors TV. Since then, the company has flourished.

Primarily, it is recognized for its bi-weekly web show with the same name. A new episode of WWTV can be seen at WeekendWarriorsTV.com every other Tuesday. The show is hosted by Brittany, and focuses on grassroots racing. The show is now 16 episodes deep and has showcased a diversity of racing divisions spanning dirt modifieds, late models, go-karts, tractor pulls, and off-road racing, just to name a few.  

Though the show has become the face of the company, the WWTV entity reaches far beyond motorsports. The company also specializes in creating and developing concept and promotional videos and commercials, music videos, electronic press kits, and feature videos.

With the premiere of Dugger’s music video on Wednesday, WWTV director Bortle is confident that the company’s brand will continue to grow beyond the motorsports spectrum.

“Yes, we do the TV show, but it really doesn’t hold a candle to all of the other things that we can do, nor does it entirely showcase the depth of our company,” boasted Bortle.

“We want to introduce the world to Weekend Warriors TV and Tim Dugger’s music. To go from not knowing Tim at all, to seeing him develop as a friend, it means the world to me to debut his video. Honestly, it is a dream come true. It means the world to me to be a part of his career,” he added.

The Weekend Warriors TV produced “Sunday Drive” music video will premiere Wednesday night in the middle of Dugger’s two-hour set. The video was shot in North Carolina, including a location shoot at the storied North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The video includes many guest stars, including Richard Childress, Austin Dillon, and Weekend Warriors TV’s own, Brittany Lofton.

“I am excited about the video and finally bringing the final product to everybody,” she said. “It was a great opportunity and evolved another outlet of my career.”

Justin Lofton, co-owner and sometimes cameraman of Weekend Warriors TV added, “It was a lot of fun filming, and getting to know Tim. He has become a great friend to all of us, and we are really excited to bring the final product to everyone. It is really exciting to see Weekend Warriors TV progressing as it has.”

“Wednesday will be a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to many more events like this in the future.”

Accomplished young racer Cory Joyce began his racing career at eight years old with a go kart he received as a Christmas gift from his parents. Since his first laps around Sugarhill Raceway in New Hampshire, Joyce has been chasing his racing career around the east coast.

Native of Gilford, New Hampshire, Joyce and his family moved to Mooresville, North Carolina, in 2005 to expand his racing career. For the next three years, Cory continued racing go karts and logging laps on the track. He scored multiple wins at local tracks and was the WKA National Pavement Series Champion at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 2007.

In early 2008, Cory Joyce Racing purchased a limited late model from NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standout Ron Hornaday. That same year, Cory ran in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Tri-County Speedway, where he finished eighth in points despite running only six of the 17 races that year.

Driving the No. 33 Chevy in the Limited Late Model Division in his first full season in 2009 at Hickory Motor Speedway, Cory gained an infinite amount of experience in the late model. He scored one win, 12 top-five finishes and clinched the Rookie of the Year title.

Top-notch mentors and friends like Ron Hornaday, ARCA RE/MAX series standout Justin Lofton, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief Kevin Manion are credited with helping Joyce along the way. Their knowledge and expertise, along with Joyce’s exceptional driving talent, have shortened his learning curve in stock cars.

Facing his future and traveling full speed ahead, Cory Joyce is looking to take the next step in his career. Adding to his skill set and racing portfolio, Joyce will take his No. 20 Limited Late Model to several new tracks in the region, and also plans to make select starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2010.

If you’re searching for diversity in motorsports, look no further than Weekend Warriors TV. Known for its coverage of grassroots racing and behind the scenes action, WWTV adds another episode into the video vault this week, featuring the Big Lick Truck and Tractor Pull in Oakboro, North Carolina.

“There are so many facets of racing, and this event was definitely an eye opener. The competition is amazing. With the popularity of NASCAR, people might overlook local events like this,” said WWTV director Brett Bortle. “But I encourage anybody who has never been to a truck and tractor pull to check it out. The environment is definitely unique.”

The episode showcases multiple classes, from four-by-four trucks to turbo diesel tractors, as they compete for the top honor. Bortle also goes one-on-one with industry insiders, giving viewers a glimpse into other aspects surrounding the on-track event.

The Big Lick Truck and Tractor Pull is the 15th episode for WWTV. To date, the show has featured events spanning dirt modifieds, late models, go-karts, and off-road racing, just to name a few. In addition to the bi-weekly WWTV show, Weekend Warriors Productions specializes in concept and promotional videos and commercials, as well as music videos and specials.

I am currently a development driver for Richard Childress Racing. My debut with RCR was in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Phoenix International Raceway. In 2010, I will race a second season in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, and possibly some other races. From here we will determine what the best next step is for 2011…

I raced in the 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series for Eddie Sharp Racing, with the primary sponsor of Ruby Tuesday. I was very fortunate to receive the 2008 Rolex Series Rookie of the Year Award driving for The Racer’s Group. I also worked on the business side of racing with TRG, and this has sparked my interest in all levels of the sport.

I am very excited to be driving for one of the most historic and widely celebrated teams in NASCAR. I have a great opportunity of RCR and have to thank everyone for the support and my fans for sticking by me.

I do a lot of training, racing, and trying transition my skill set from sports cars to stock cars. I love extreme sports and outdoor activities. I have always been attracted to cars and speed, ever since I was eight years old and my father put me in the back section of his 1967 Corvette Stingray. I called it the “roller coaster” ride! I was drawn to motorsports in 2004 when I was catering events for the Ferrari Challenge Series. I have a passion for cooking, and thought I wanted to own my own restaurant someday. However, something about the sound, smell, and rush of those racecars made me want to be in the cockpit. I saw the Skip Barber Racing School advertised at Lime Rock Park, and signed up for my first course. Little did I know that four years later this would end up being my career path.

I was born and raised in New York City. Having grown up around the high-energy and commotion of the city, I feel at home around excitement. I find myself seeking high-octane experiences. Ever since I was a young boy, I have been focused on my fitness. I am a certified personal trainer, and very serious about my endurance level. From helicopter skiing to racecar driving, without an adrenaline rush each day, my life seems incomplete. However, I also enjoy relaxing ways of spending my time such as golf or chess. I can survive in the woods with only a knife, as I went through a wilderness program. I have traded stocks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. I am well traveled, and am constantly looking for new experiences.

I have always had a competitive nature, and aim to harness this energy to produce the best result possible both in and out of the racecar. I graduated from the University of Miami, with a BA in English, and a double minor in History and Economics. While I was attending the University of Miami, I was also driving in the Skip Barber Regional Race Series and karting. Once I graduated from college, I moved on to drive in the Grand-Am Koni Challenge. I quickly moved on to compete in one of the highest forms of sportscar racing in the world, the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Since then, I have decided that NASCAR is where I need to be. It is the number one spectator sport in America, and I look forward to being part of the machine.

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division is the oldest permanent brigade in the United States Army and has some of the oldest units in the United States Army. HHC, 1st Brigade has participated in Campaigns of World War I, Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Its most notable campaigns include the Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Picardy, Tet Counteroffensive and the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Since Desert Storm, the “Devil” Brigade participated in numerous rotations to the National Training Center, deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait and a deployment to Korea to participate in a 2nd Infantry Division exercise. On 23 July 2003, US Forces Command alerted the 1st Brigade Combat Team for deployment to the Iraq Theater of Operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Devil Brigade’s motto is “No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great – DUTY FIRST!”

Thank you to all the men and women who serve our country!

Racing Experience

2009 Finished #1 for the season in the Nascar Whelen All-American HUTCHBSR Pro Late Model series
2008 Coca-Cola Pure Stock series
2007 Fast & Furious Fours

WeekendWarriorsTV.com is a show built by racers, for racers. So what better place for the show to be, than on the racetrack? This weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, WWTV is along for the ride with driver Justin Lofton, gracing the hood of his No. 71 WeekendWarriorsTV.com Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series.

“We have worked really hard on the show and this is another opportunity to make more fans aware of what it is and what we do,“ Lofton said. “Racing is my passion and to be able to bring the two together, it means a lot. We’ve put a lot into building Weekend Warriors and it feels really good to be able to see the efforts paying off. The car looks good and I’m excited about the race on Saturday.”

Weekend Warriors TV is a bi-weekly web show, found at WeekendWariorsTV.com. The 2009 ARCA Racing Series Champion, Camping World Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, and part-time Nationwide Series driver Lofton, launched the show in October of 2009 with business partner and friend Brett Bortle. Bortle serves as the show’s director. When his racing allows, Lofton climbs from the cockpit of his racecar and behind the camera, traveling to racetracks across the country with Bortle and his sister Brittany, who serves as the show’s host.

10 episodes deep, WWTV has already delved behind the scenes of many forms of racing; from karts, dirt modifieds, late models, and open wheeled machines, to off-road racing south of the border in Mexico. Every WWTV episode not only features the intense on-track action at each selected event, but also allows viewers an all access behind the scenes pass as host Brittany Lofton goes one-on-one with the racers.

Produced under the Weekend Warriors Productions umbrella, WWTV is just one of many projects that the Lofton/Bortle team have in the works. Weekend Warriors Productions is a one stop shop for promotional videos, concept videos, commercials, graphic design, and music videos. WWP focuses on motorsports and has produced promotional videos for drivers, teams, and sponsors alike. WWP is also in the midst of working on a music video for country artist Tim Dugger.

“I am really proud of the show and what we’ve been able to accomplish in a short amount of time with the Weekend Warriors name,” Bortle said, adding of the Texas race, “Being able to be on the hood of Justin’s car this week at Texas, in such a big Nationwide event, is a true honor. Unfortunately, I’ll be working on a future episode on Saturday and I will not be able to watch the race, but I know Justin is excited and confident about a good finish in the WeekendWarriorsTV.com Camry.”

While Bortle is at Concord Motorsports Park in North Carolina filming crate late model action, Lofton will be across the country, hitting speeds in excess of 180 mph in Saturday’s Nationwide Series event behind the wheel of the No. 71 WeekendWarriorsTV.com Toyota Camry. The 300-mile race is set for Saturday at 3:30 PM EST. Live coverage can be seen on ESPN.

Weekend Warriors TV’s ninth episode is now online with Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series action from the clay-surfaced Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, North Carolina. Throughout the episode, WWTV goes behind the scenes and on track for the 10th Annual Skyler Trull Memorial.

Host Brittany Lofton goes one-on-one with some of the circuit’s best, spanning Dennis Franklin, Chris Ferguson, five-time Carolina Clash Champion Ricky Weeks, and defending Carolina Clash Champion Jeff Smith. And where there is a race, there is NASCAR veteran Kenny Schrader. Schrader also talks with Lofton and the WWTV crew, discussing his various racing endeavors and his new Roush-Yates engine program.

The track, dubbed “The Action Track,” was built in 1962 and since, has established itself as one of the best short track racing facilities on dirt across the Southeast. The reputable tight racing and hungry competition is what lured WWTV to the quaint track for its latest installment.

“The track looks small, but you’d think it was bigger with the speeds that they carry,” explained WWTV director BrettBortle. “It looks as though they are going to hit the wall when they slide through the turn. It’s so fast, they just keep on going.”

The next installment of Weekend Warriors TV, which will be the show’s 10th episode, is set for launch next Tuesday, April 6thwith coverage of midget racing from Hickory Motor Speedway.

Episode 8 of Weekend Warriors TV is set to launch this Tuesday, March 23rd, with the latest installment featuring off-road racing action from San Felipe, Mexico. Director Brett Bortle, along with business partner Justin Lofton, a graduate of off-road racing and current driver of the No. 7 Toyota Tundra in the Camping World Truck Series, recently trekked south of the border to cover the illustrious MasterCraft Safety-Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.

The duo packed up and headed 120 miles south of the U.S/Mexican border in order to take viewers front and center with one of the most intense forms of motorsports. With over 250 entries and with nine countries represented, the WWTV crew knew that the event was sure to be a thriller.

“It’s the first time Weekend Warriors traveled to Mexico,” Bortle said. “It was an exciting experience, to be around the different culture while also covering the event.”

The episode goes in-depth with the MasterCraft racing team consisting of Trophy Truck racers Robbie Pierce, Rob McCachren, and Will Staats.

The event was the first that Mastercraft Safety sponsored in Mexico, giving the racers added pressure throughout the course of the weekend. WWTV was there to capture their thoughts and feelings as they tackled the Mexican terrain.

Additionally, the episode goes behind the scenes of Contingency Row, Downtown on the Malecon, where Lofton stepped out from behind the camera, also taking part in activities, signing autographs for his long-time off-road fans.

Weekend Warriors TV’s coverage of Speed Weeks continues this week as they launch episode seven from Volusia Speedway Park and the UMP DIRTcar Modified Gator Nationals. The event, filmed earlier this month at the historic Florida short track located not far from Daytona International Speedway, showcases some of dirt racing’s best; from up and comers, to standouts, to proven racers in other divisions just dabbling in their downtime.

The WWTV crew takes you one on one with those racers, including brothers Ty and Austin Dillon, grandsons to legendary car owner Richard Childress. Childress’s Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer also takes on Volusia and discusses why with host Brittany Lofton.

Lofton also interviews Jared Landers, pre race as well as post race, in victory lane as he celebrates the prestigious race win on the historic dirt track.

2006

Bandoleros
7 Races: 2 Wins, 3 Top Five Finishes,
5 Top Ten Finishes

Legend Chargers
4 Races: 2 Wins

2007

Semi-Pro Legends
Won Atlanta Semi-Pro Legends
2nd in Points at Orlando Winternationals
14 Wins, 3 Top Five Finishes

Overall Year Results
31 Races: 9 Wins, 10 Second Places,
24 Top Five Finishes, 27 Top Ten Finishes

Dirt Late Model
First Race at Volunteer Speedway
Started 8th, Finished 8th

Won National Qualifier
at Lanier Speedway

2008

Overall Year Results
16 Races: 9 Wins, 1 Second Place,
2 Top Five Finishes, 1 Top Ten Finish

2009

NASCAR Camping World East
3 races, 2 top 10′s

Asphalt Late Model
13 races, 10 top 10′s

Dirt Modified
8 races, 3 top 5′s

Dirt Late Model
3 races, 1 top 5

While February Speed Weeks in Florida usually means built up to the Daytona 500, competitive short track racing throughout the state cannot be ignored. But in case you did miss it, WeekendWarriorsTV.com’s latest episode catches you up with some of the intense on-track action, with coverage from New Smyrna Speedway’s recent asphalt winged sprint car event.

While the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway is the most prolific racetrack in stock car racing, New Smyrna Speedway is recognized as one of the state’s most competitive short tracks. With its high-banked, half-mile racing surface, the track is a favorite to NASCAR teams for test sessions. In order to see what all of the hype was about, the WWTV crew hit up the famed track to check out the facility and take you behind the scenes of the February 7th sprint car race.

In addition to the featured intense racing action, host Brittany Lofton goes one-on-one with racers Ray Bragg, Joey Aguilar, and race winner Bo Hartley throughout the nearly half-hour installment.

Episode five of Weekend Warriors TV (WeekendWarriorsTV.com) is now online and ready for viewing. The fifth installment of WWTV, which focuses on grassroots forms of racing across the country, delves behind the scenes in Laughlin, Nevada at the Laughlin Leap and the Score International Laughlin Desert Challenge.

Throughout the nearly half-hour long installment, host Brittany Lofton interviews some of off-road racing’s most notable names, in addition to director Brett Bortle getting down and dirty by capturing some of the intense racing action.

Post race, Lofton also goes one-on one with the race winner to discuss the high octane event.

Next up, the WWTV crew will head to Daytona for Speed Weeks. As hinted at by Lofton at the end of episode five, the next installment is expected to be jam-packed with coverage from “New Smyrna Speedway, Volusia, There’s going to be modifieds, late models, sprint cars – pretty much anything and everything on four wheels.”

The fourth episode of Weekend Warriors TV is now online and ready for viewing. Found at WeekendWarriorsTV.com, the episode, Karts Gone Wild, was recently filmed during the World Karting Association Karting Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Host Brittany Lofton goes one on one with some of WKA’s stand-out racers, in addition to former Indianapolis 500 winner and current IndyCar Series racer Dan Wheldon, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Jamie McMurray and A.J. Allmendinger.

Hosted by Lofton, and directed by Brett Bortle, Weekend Warriors TV focuses on grassroots racing across the country. Just four episodes deep, WWTV has already delved behind the scenes with racers spanning USAR Pro Cup Series, World of Outlaws, dirt modifieds, and karts. Next up, the WWTV crew will pack up and head west to Laughlin, Nevada and mix things up with some off-road racing at the Score International Laughlin Desert Challenge later this week. The episode featuring the off-road challenge will debut on Tuesday, January 26th.

Born May 11, 1987 in San Diego, CA, this third generation desert racing prodigy was born for off-road racing. The grandson of the late off-road legend, Corky McMillin, Andy began riding in off-road at a very young age. At just two years old, he started pre-running desert races with his father from a modified car seat. Andy soon began driving dune buggies and before his tenth birthday, he was allowed to pilot his uncle Mark’s famed Class 1 car, “Macadu.” From pre-running and testing to competing, Andy was thoroughly hooked on off-road racing.

Mentored by his father, Scott and grandfather, Corky, Andy was taught the art of off-road racing at an early age. “There are no formal training programs in off-road racing, so drivers learn by doing everything wrong first,” revealed Andy. “I was fortunate to have a father and grandfather who were patient with me from the beginning. They both spent countless days pre-running and teaching me the do’s and don’ts of desert racing.”

Will compete in 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season and contend for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in RCR’s No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado

Made his NCWTS debut at Iowa Speedway on September 5, 2009

Drove in four different stock car series as an RCR development driver in 2009, earning two top-15 finishes in two NCWTS races, a 24.8 average finish in four NASCAR Nationwide Series starts, one top-five and two top-10 finishes in three NASCAR Camping World Series races, and two runner-up finishes in both his ARCA Series starts.

Enrolled in High Point (N.C.) University’s Nido R. Quebin School of Communications as a freshman in August 2009

Won his second All-Star Shootout at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2009

Made his NNS debut at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on September 7, 2008, and followed that up with a career-best series finish of fourth at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park on October 25, 2008

Earned Rookie of the Year honors and finished second in the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series East final point standings

Won three dirt Late Model races in 2007, including the May All-Star Shootout at The Dirt Track at CMS, before advancing to asphalt Late Model cars

Began racing career in Bandaleros and Legends cars in 2005 before advancing to dirt Late Model in 2006

It’s hard to imagine a young driver with more championships (22) than his age. Since Trevor Bayne turned five-years-old, he has been wheeling anything he gets his hands on.

In the eight years that he competed on the go-kart circuit, Bayne earned three World Championships with over 300 feature wins and 18 State and Track Championships combined. During that time, Bayne also learned the value of dedication and discovered the joy of success that would transform to the fierce competitor that defines Trevor Bayne.

From there, it was the Allison Legacy Race Series, where a 13-year-old Bayne became the youngest top rookie in the series. Over his two year stint in the series, the Knoxville, Tenn., native notched 14 wins, 19 pole positions and 30 top-five finishes in only 41 starts. Additionally, the young phenom became the series’ National Champion in 2005.

After conquering his opponents in the Allison Series, Bayne made a successful transition to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Southern Division. At 15, he again was the youngest in series’ history to earn top rookie honors.

Bayne’s rapid climb toward a career in NASCAR got a boost when Dale Earnhardt Inc. signed the youngster to its driver development program in 2008. That year he began competing in the NASCAR Camping World East where he grabbed his first series win at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on July 21. He went on to earn six top-five and seven top-10 finishes and finished fourth in the NASCAR Camping World East point standings.

In 2009 Bayne started off the year by finishing second in the Toyota All-Star Showdown on Jan. 24 at Irwindale (N.C.) Speedway. Due to his performance at the Showdown, the young Bayne captured the Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors and attracting the attention of many.

In early 2009, with economic downturn, Bayne learned that he was without a ride with DEI and was in search of his future.

He would make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut March 21st at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway where he finished 23rd driving Jimmy Mean’s No. 52 entry. However, NNS career really didn’t start until he was tabbed to run a part-time schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 99 Toyota Camry.

He started his stint behind the No. 99 Toyota Camry with a bang by grabbing the outside pole at Nashville Superspeedway on June 6. However, he was caught up in a wreck and finished 28th. His other two events, Kentucky and Milwaukee, the young gun stared in the top 10 and finished 12th.

As he continues to raise the bar at the wheel, Bayne still has many more chapters to fill and championships to win. Where the Trevor Bayne story will end is left to the imagination and only time will tell…