Nathan Schaldach, better known as Cali Nate from the hit Discovery series Street Outlaws, tragically lost his life in a devastating crash Saturday night in southwest Texas.
His heartbroken girlfriend, Courtney Paulshock, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, calling Nathan her “soul mate” and expressing her deep grief.
“I’m not whole,” she wrote Sunday. “I’m completely shocked. I feel like my heart is breaking.”
According to Courtney Paulshock, the tragic accident occurred while Nathan Schaldach was racing in Eagle Pass, a small town about two hours west of San Antonio.
Though his friends rushed him to the hospital, they were helpless to save him.
Paulshock chose not to disclose any further details about the crash or what led up to it.
In a heartfelt tribute, she said, “Seeing his mom and sister again made him so happy. Outside of racing, he lived for his passions.”
“To have known the kind of love Nathan gave me every day was a true blessing,” she added.
Nathan Schaldach was known to fans as Cali Nate from the fourth season of Street Outlaws: Fastest in America, a series that followed eight drag racing teams competing for a $100,000 prize. His season wrapped up last May.
The popular show is a spin-off of Street Outlaws, which chronicles daring street racers risking everything for the thrill of speed.
For those unfamiliar, drag racing is a high-speed competition where two cars race side-by-side on a short, straight track to see who crosses the finish line first.
Street racing remains outlawed in most places due to its deadly risks, despite professional motorsports generally maintaining strict safety standards.
Tragically, Nathan Schaldach’s death follows a similar loss in 2022, when Ryan Fellows, another Street Outlaws cast member, died in a car accident during filming. Schaldach’s fatal crash occurred when his car overturned and caught fire during a race in Las Vegas. A Discovery spokesperson described the loss as devastating for the network.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Texas authorities for more information about Nate’s accident.
Online, friends and fans flooded social media with grief and condolences after Nathan’s sudden passing.
Chris Frank, a close friend, admitted the news left him sleepless. “Those who raced him feared him. Those who knew him loved him,” Frank said in a heartfelt Facebook video.
“We all know every race could be our last. Every ride is dangerous.”
“One of the last true racers with a genuine love and deep understanding of the sport was Nate.”
In one of her most emotional farewell messages, Courtney Paulshock vowed to love Nathan forever.
Before his final race, Nathan sent a heartfelt message to his girlfriend: “Garth told me to tell you I love you very much, just in case tomorrow never comes.”
That race would tragically be his last.
Courtney Paulshock shared her anguish beneath a screenshot of the text, pleading, “Please wake me up from this nightmare.”
Later that day, she posted Lady Gaga’s haunting ballad “I’ll Never Love Again” from A Star Is Born, capturing the depth of her heartbreak.
