TRIBUTE

1982 – 2026

By Nate Van Wagnen

1320Video, the media outlet Loftis launched in 2003, announced Loftis’ passing on May 6.“ Kyle’ s passion for motorsports inspired millions of people around the world and we will never forget what he has done to grow our beloved sport,” the company said in its statement, adding that Loftis’“ enthusiasm, kindness and creativeness was contagious.”

Loftis founded 1320Video long before You- Tube, Instagram, Facebook and other social platforms became the dominant distribution points for automotive media. What began as one enthusiast shooting photos and sharing them on message boards grew into one of the most recognizable brands in grassroots performance, street car, and drag racing coverage.

Based in the Midwest, 1320Video built its identity around documenting the cars, drivers, events, and culture that were often overlooked by traditional motorsports media. Its coverage stretched across drag racing, street racing, dyno shootouts, car shows, roll racing, and major enthusiast events.

The platform’ s rise coincided with a major shift in the way fans consumed motorsports content. As social media and video platforms

grew, 1320Video became a bridge between underground street car culture and a global audience. The brand’ s coverage helped introduce countless fans to events like HOT ROD Drag Week, Rocky Mountain Race Week, TX2K, FL2K, Cash Days, Street Car Takeover, and other gatherings that became central to the modern street car movement. It also helped launch the superstar status of Cleetus McFarland, the alter ego of Garrett Mitchell, who was working for 1320Video when he filmed his first video as Cleetus McFarland.

“ Completely shocked about the loss of Kyle,” Mitchell said on Facebook.“ The most influential person on my life. We’ re crushed. Please pray for his Mother and close friends, they need it most.”

Just a couple weeks before Loftis’ passing, Mitchell gifted Loftis a brand-new Corvette ZR1, completely spec’ d out exactly how Loftis dreamt it up.

“ He’ s the first one who ever called me Cleetus McFarland( 11 years ago!) and helped me turn it into something real,” Mitchell said in a Facebook post at the time.“ The guys and I have been trying to get him a crazy gift for the last few years, and finally when he reached out to me about buying a ZR1( which is really hard to get) I knew we had something! I tricked him into sending me his build sheet so I could ask my friends at GM if they could get him an allotment … meanwhile we ordered his car immediately. This is a small token of my appreciation for an extremely generous and kind human being. Anyone who’ s ever met Kyle knows how awesome of a guy he truly is, and what he’ s done for our industry. Thank you, Kyle.”

52 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 201