Kyle Loftis

Kyle A. Loftis was born on September 21, 1982, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Steve and Linda (Draper) Loftis. He grew up attending Rousseau Elementary School, Pound Middle School, and Lincoln Southeast High School — where his curiosity, entrepreneurial spark, and love of cars were already evident to those around him. An Eagle Scout in his youth, Kyle carried the values of service and integrity throughout his life. He went on to study Management of Information Systems at the Peter Kiewit Institute, College of Information Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. It was there, in 2003, that a point-and-shoot camera, a passion for street racing, and a quiet instinct for storytelling converged. Kyle founded 1320Video — named for the 1,320 feet of a quarter-mile drag strip — while still a student, documenting underground street racing on video and selling DVDs through online forums. He was doing what everyone told him was a hobby, and building what would become a media empire. After graduating in 2005, Kyle spent nearly a decade in Sales Engineering at PayPal, honing his professional edge while growing 1320Video on nights and weekends. In January 2015, he left PayPal to dedicate himself fully to the company he had always believed in. By 2026, 1320Video had become one of the most-followed automotive media platforms in the world — nearly 4 million YouTube subscribers, over 6 million Facebook followers, and nearly 3 million Instagram followers. His catchphrase, "I'll make you famous," was more than a joke; he launched the careers of major influencers including Garrett Mitchell, better known as Cleetus McFarland. Beyond the cameras and the clicks, Kyle was a philanthropist at heart. The Ice Cream Cruise, the charity rally he organized, raised more than $750,000 for Omaha-area nonprofits over 20 years. He was remembered by everyone who knew him as humble, kind, always positive — a beam of light at every gathering whose infectious laugh and genuine smile made every room feel warmer. Kyle passed away on June 5, 2026, at the age of 43. He is survived by his mother Linda, his sister Kellie (Davis) and her husband Chris, his nephews JC and Wyatt, and his partner Matt Vrbanac. His father Steve preceded him in death. The community he built carries his legacy forward under a simple instruction: Smile Like Kyle.