Photo by Courtney Paulshock
The racing world was shocked this weekend by the loss of Nathan Schaldach, better known Cali Nate, who lost his life in a high-speed crash in his familiar race car, “Z-Unit,” at Eagle Pass in Texas.
Nate was one of the few racers who traveled coast-to-coast to race at no-prep events, and was a fierce competitor and often favored to win no matter the locale. Nate started gaining notoriety on the TV Show Street Outlaws, where he raced a big-tire Camaro, and later the infamous “My Little Pony” Mustang, one of the most feared small-tire cars in the country.
To say he was successful with the car would be an understatement, as Cali Nate chalked up dozens of wins as well as tens of thousands of dollars in prize money. Nate was able to use his street-race savvy to turn his racing into a tuning business, as Bullytuned became a common phrase for those seeking the most out of their rides. Nate was outgoing and opinionated, but also the sort of guy who would answer the phone in the middle of the night, or give you the shirt off his back to help mop up a leak. He was a big personality, and he’ll be missed. Nate is mourned by his girlfriend Courtney Paulshock, and survived by his son Austin and daughter Michelle, and his memory will live on in the hearts of fellow racers and fans all over the country.
