Brayton Laster Bio
Brayton Laster (born August 28, 2002), nicknamed “the Pizza Man,” is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 0 and No. 06 cars for Wayne Peterson Racing. Known for his colorful personality and distinctive racing superstitions, Laster has built a reputation as a hard-working underdog inside the short-track and stock car racing community.
A native of Greenwood, Indiana, Laster began his motorsports journey as a child and steadily worked his way through the regional ranks before reaching NASCAR national series competition. His enthusiasm for pizza, born at a local short track, has followed him throughout his career and become a recognizable part of his public identity.
Early Life and Background
Brayton Laster was born on August 28, 2002, in Greenwood, Indiana. Raised in a household with a strong appreciation for racing, he was introduced to motorsports at an early age through his father, Dane Laster, who played a central role in his son’s early development behind the wheel. The family spent considerable time at local short tracks, and that environment shaped Brayton’s lifelong passion for the sport.
Laster began racing go-karts at the age of eight at the Indianapolis Speedrome, a paved oval known for producing young talent. Four years later, he transitioned into heavier equipment, racing Ford Thunderbirds and various other stock cars at regional venues. Dane Laster later reflected on his son’s early equipment, describing it as a “Frankenstein-esque vehicle,” but credited those humble machines with teaching Brayton how to extract speed from limited resources.
For most of his career, Laster has raced the No. 13 in green paint, a combination widely considered unlucky in motorsports. Laster has openly embraced the choice as a satire of common racing superstitions, turning a perceived negative into a personal trademark.
Path to NASCAR
Laster’s path toward NASCAR national series competition ran through the ARCA Menards Series and its regional divisions. After years of competing in local stock car events, including a Rookie of the Year award at Brownstown Speedway in 2018, he earned opportunities with established ARCA teams and began logging starts in NASCAR-sanctioned events.
His NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut came on April 28, 2022, when it was announced he would enter the Clean Harbors 150 at Knoxville Raceway with Reaume Brothers Racing. Starting 31st, Laster finished 27th in the event, gaining valuable experience at one of the premier dirt venues on the Truck Series calendar.
Balancing racing with education, Laster studied business as an online student at Liberty University, allowing him to continue chasing his motorsports goals while pursuing a college degree.
Brayton Laster Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Laster’s earliest documented recognition came in 2018, when he was named Rookie of the Year at Brownstown Speedway in the Super Late Model division. The award marked his arrival on the regional stock car scene and validated years of grassroots effort at Indiana short tracks.
He continued to race various stock car classes throughout his teenage years, gaining experience in equipment that demanded both mechanical understanding and on-track patience. Those formative seasons laid the groundwork for his later transition into NASCAR and ARCA-sanctioned events.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Laster made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2022 at the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 03 car for Mullins Racing. He delivered a strong run in his first start, finishing 13th. He returned to the No. 03 for the 2023 Daytona season-opener, finishing 27th, before joining Fast Track Racing at Charlotte, where he finished 19th. Later in 2023, he drove the No. 31 for Rise Motorsports in three races, recording top-ten finishes in all three appearances.
In 2024, Laster was initially announced to drive the No. 91 for TC Motorsports at Daytona, but the entry shifted to the No. 95 under MAN Motorsports in partnership with TC Motorsports. He failed to qualify for that race but went on to make seven additional ARCA starts during the season with Fast Track Racing, Rise Motorsports, and Wayne Peterson Racing, with a best finish of ninth at Salem Speedway.
Wayne Peterson Racing Era (2024–Present)
On October 30, 2024, Wayne Peterson Racing announced that Laster would run the full 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule. He drove the No. 0 and No. 06 entries for the organization, recording one top-ten finish during the season and ending the year eighth in the ARCA Menards Series point standings.
The full-time opportunity represented a significant step in Laster’s career, providing consistent seat time at a variety of tracks and a stable team environment. His results at Wayne Peterson Racing reflected steady progress as he continued to develop his skills against experienced ARCA competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Laster has built his reputation on persistence and mechanical versatility, traits shaped by years of racing hand-me-down equipment. His experience at demanding ovals such as Knoxville Raceway, Salem Speedway, and Indianapolis Raceway Park has given him comfort on both paved and dirt surfaces, while his willingness to embrace unconventional superstitions has made him a distinctive personality in the garage.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Laster’s most memorable moments are his 13th-place ARCA debut at Daytona in 2022, his top-ten streak with Rise Motorsports in 2023, and his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Knoxville Raceway in the Clean Harbors 150. His 2018 Rookie of the Year award at Brownstown Speedway remains a foundational milestone in his racing journey.
Brayton Laster Career Wins
Brayton Laster has not recorded a verified feature-race victory in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, or ARCA’s regional East and West divisions as of the 2025 season. His results to date have featured consistent top-ten finishes and developmental progress rather than trips to victory lane.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Laster’s ARCA Menards Series career began with a 13th-place run at Daytona in 2022 and has included starts with Mullins Racing, Fast Track Racing, Rise Motorsports, MAN Motorsports, TC Motorsports, and Wayne Peterson Racing. His strongest stretches came with Rise Motorsports in 2023, where he posted three consecutive top-ten finishes, and during his 2025 full-time campaign with Wayne Peterson Racing, where he finished eighth in the season standings.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond ARCA and the Truck Series, Laster has made starts in the ARCA Menards Series East at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Iowa Speedway, and Indianapolis Raceway Park, as well as a debut in the ARCA Menards Series West at the General Tire 150. His 2018 Rookie of the Year award at Brownstown Speedway remains his most notable regional accomplishment.
Brayton Laster Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brayton Laster was introduced to racing by his father, Dane Laster, who supported his son’s early career both as a mentor and as the mechanic preparing his race cars. The elder Laster has spoken publicly about the resourcefulness required to keep his son’s equipment competitive during the family’s grassroots years.
Personal Life
Outside of racing, Laster is widely known by his nickname “The Pizza Man,” a moniker that traces back to the Indianapolis Speedrome, where he first fell in love with pizza as a young fan. He has carried that passion into his public persona, frequently referencing pizza in interviews and on social media. He studied business as an online student at Liberty University while continuing his racing career.
2025 Season Performance
Laster entered the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season with Wayne Peterson Racing after being announced as a full-time driver on October 30, 2024. Competing in the No. 0 and No. 06 entries, he logged a complete schedule across the ARCA calendar, gaining valuable seat time at ovals across the country.
During the season, Laster secured one top-ten finish and demonstrated steady improvement as he adapted to a full-time touring schedule. His consistency was reflected in his final ranking of eighth in the ARCA Menards Series point standings.
Looking beyond 2025, it was revealed on November 18, 2025, that Laster plans to attempt the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals with Zach Boden Racing, signaling continued ambition to expand into premier dirt competition. The Chili Bowl opportunity underscores his commitment to broadening his experience across racing disciplines.
