Nathan Schaldach, known as Cali Nate from the Discovery series “Street Outlaws,” tragically died in a vehicle crash on Saturday night in southwest Texas. His girlfriend, Courtney Paulshock, confirmed the news in a heart-wrenching Facebook post, calling him her “soul mate.”
“I’m not whole. I’m completely shocked,” Paulshock wrote on Sunday. “I feel like my heart is breaking.”
The accident occurred while Schaldach was racing at Eagle Pass, about two hours west of San Antonio. Despite his friends’ efforts to get him to the hospital, they were unable to save him.
Paulshock refrained from sharing additional details about the crash or its preceding events but remarked on Schaldach’s joy from seeing his mother and sister again. “Outside, he pursued his passions. To know the kind of love that Nathan gave me and showed me on a daily basis was a true blessing,” she said.
Schaldach featured in the fourth season of “Street Outlaws: Fastest in America,” a show that follows eight drag racing teams competing for a $100,000 prize. His season concluded in May last year. The series, inspired by the original “Street Outlaws,” showcases street racers risking their lives in high-stakes races. Drag racing typically involves two cars racing on a short, straight track toward a finish line.
While professional drag racing is generally safe, street racing is highly dangerous and illegal in most places. In 2022, Ryan Fellows, another “Street Outlaws” cast member, died in a car accident during filming. His car overturned and caught fire during a race in Las Vegas, a tragedy that deeply affected the network.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Texas police for more information about Schaldach’s collision.
Friends and fans of Schaldach have expressed their sorrow and condolences online. Chris Frank, a friend of Schaldach’s, shared his grief on Facebook, noting that he barely slept after hearing the news. “Those of you who raced him feared him, and those of you who were friends with him loved him,” Frank said in a video. He acknowledged the inherent danger of racing, stating, “We all know that any ride could be our last, and every race is dangerous. Nate was one of the last genuine racers with a true love and understanding for the sport.”
In one of her final messages to Schaldach, Paulshock vowed to love him forever. She shared a poignant text exchange in which Schaldach quoted Garth Brooks: “Garth told me to tell you I love you very much just in case tomorrow never comes.” She later posted Lady Gaga’s song “I’ll Never Love Again” from the film “A Star Is Born,” expressing her profound grief.
