The reality TV community is reeling in shock and grief after the sudden passing of Nathan Schaldach, a popular drag racer on the Discovery series Street Outlaws.
Schaldach, affectionately known as Cali Nate, met his untimely demise in a devastating car accident on a Saturday night in southwest Texas. His heartbroken girlfriend, Courtney Paulshock, took to Facebook to share the devastating news, describing Schaldach as her “soul mate.”
Paulshock’s emotional post conveyed the depth of her sorrow, saying, “I’m not complete… I’m completely shocked… My heart feels like it’s breaking.” The accident occurred while Schaldach was racing near Eagle Pass, about two hours west of San Antonio.
Despite his friends’ efforts to rush him to the hospital, Schaldach’s injuries proved fatal. Paulshock was unable to provide details on the cause of the crash or the events leading up to it.
Schaldach’s passion for racing was evident in his participation in the fourth season of Street Outlaws: Fastest in America. The show featured eight drag racing teams competing for a $100,000 prize. His season came to an end in May last year.
The Street Outlaws franchise, which showcases insane street racers, has been marred by tragedy in the past. In 2022, actor Ryan Fellows died in a car accident while filming the show. Schaldach’s passing serves as a poignant reminder of the risks involved in professional racing.
Tributes have poured in for Schaldach, with friends and fans expressing their condolences online. Chris Frank, a friend of Schaldach’s, shared a heartfelt video on Facebook, saying, “Those of you who raced him feared him, and those of you who were friends with him loved him.”
In a poignant exchange, Schaldach had sent Paulshock a text message before his final race, saying, “Garth told me to tell you I love you very much, just in case tomorrow never comes.” Paulshock captioned a screenshot of the message with the words, “Please wake me up from this nightmare.”
