Parker Retzlaff Bio
Parker Edward Retzlaff, born on May 21, 2003, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Viking Motorsports. Standing 180 cm tall and weighing roughly 59 kg, Retzlaff represents one of the younger competitors climbing through the NASCAR ladder system.
A native of the upper Midwest, Retzlaff has built his career on short tracks, regional touring series, and step-by-step promotions through NASCAR’s development ranks. His journey from Wisconsin Junior Sprints to a national NASCAR tour highlights a steady rise that began well before his teenage years.
Early Life and Background
Retzlaff was born and raised in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a small city known more for outdoor recreation than motorsports. He began racing in 2012 at just nine years old, competing in the Wisconsin Junior Sprints, where he captured the mid-season championship in his debut year. The early success sparked what would become a lifelong commitment to stock car racing.
In 2013, he moved into the Wisconsin Bandolero Series, finishing third in points, before winning the series championship a year later. From 2015 to 2016, he ranked second in state points, sharpening the foundational skills that would later support bigger opportunities.
By 2017, Retzlaff was running full-time in the ARCA Midwest Tour, finishing fourteenth in points, while also ranking second in the Midwest Truck Series asphalt division. The following season, he placed sixth in the overall Midwest Truck Series standings, reinforcing his reputation as one of the region’s most promising young drivers.
Path to NASCAR
Retzlaff’s first taste of national NASCAR competition came in 2019, when he signed with Visconti Motorsports for two races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the predecessor to the ARCA Menards Series East. He earned his first top-ten at Memphis International Raceway and his first top-five at Gateway Motorsports Park, where he also made his K&N Pro Series West debut, finishing fifth.
In 2020, Retzlaff joined Cook-Finley Racing for a full East Series campaign, collecting five top-tens and one top-twenty on his way to fourth in the final standings. He also made his ARCA Menards Series debut that season, posting a best finish of eighth at Toledo Speedway. A partial 2021 schedule followed, highlighted by a fourth-place run at Southern National Motorsports Park.
After stepping away from ARCA competition for 2022, Retzlaff turned his focus toward NASCAR’s national touring series. His development through regional and short-track racing laid the groundwork for the Xfinity, Truck, and Cup opportunities that followed.
Parker Retzlaff Career
Early Career (2012-2018)
Retzlaff’s earliest career years were spent entirely within Wisconsin’s grassroots racing scene. From Junior Sprints to Bandoleros, and later the ARCA Midwest Tour and Midwest Truck Series, he built a résumé of podium finishes and championships that signaled real potential beyond regional racing.
By 2018, his sixth-place result in the Midwest Truck Series standings had drawn attention from national teams looking for the next generation of talent. Those results helped open the door to ARCA and K&N opportunities beginning in 2019.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Debut (2022)
On September 26, 2022, it was revealed that Retzlaff would make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 20 for Young’s Motorsports. The start marked his first official entry in one of NASCAR’s three national touring series.
The Truck Series appearance was brief, but it gave Retzlaff critical seat time at one of the sport’s most demanding superspeedways. That experience would later support his move into NASCAR’s premier divisions.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2022-2025)
Retzlaff’s real national ascent began on December 3, 2021, when RSS Racing announced him for a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series effort in 2022, driving the No. 38. He qualified a strong sixth in his debut at the United Rentals 200 before a fuel pump issue ended his day early. His best finish of the season came at the ToyotaCare 250, where he started and finished tenth. After parting ways with RSS Racing in September 2022, he closed the year with a one-off start in the No. 02 for Our Motorsports at Texas.
On January 4, 2023, Jordan Anderson Racing announced that Retzlaff would drive the No. 31 full-time for the 2023 season. He opened the year with a career-best fourth-place finish at Daytona and went on to record one top-five, seven top-tens, and a sixteenth-place result in the final standings. In 2024, he returned to JAR and scored his and the team’s first career poles at Richmond and Martinsville, although he slipped to twenty-first in points with only four top-tens.
On December 18, 2024, Retzlaff was announced as a driver for Alpha Prime Racing in 2025, taking over the No. 4 Chevrolet. On April 19 at Rockingham, he drove to a third-place finish that was later elevated to second after post-race disqualification of the winner, setting a new career best. On November 7, 2025, it was announced that Retzlaff would join Viking Motorsports for 2026, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet.
NASCAR Cup Series Debut (2024)
On May 30, 2024, it was originally announced that Retzlaff would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Daytona International Speedway in August, driving the No. 62 for Beard Motorsports. The plan changed on August 5, 2024, when he was announced as the driver of the No. 66 for MBM Motorsports at Richmond Raceway to satisfy a non-superspeedway start requirement. He started 37th and finished 35th, six laps down.
Retzlaff’s Cup highlight came at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, where he pushed Harrison Burton to the lead under an overtime finish and scored an impressive seventh-place result. The finish remains his career-best in Cup competition.
Viking Motorsports Era (2026-Present)
On November 7, 2025, Viking Motorsports announced that Retzlaff would join the team for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro SS. The move signals a fresh start for the young driver after a year of growth at Alpha Prime Racing.
Retzlaff enters the Viking Motorsports era with valuable experience from three full-time national seasons and a Cup Series start under his belt. His poles at Richmond and Martinsville, combined with strong runs at Daytona and Rockingham, suggest he is ready to compete for top results on a weekly basis.
Driving Style and Strengths
Retzlaff has shown particular strength on flat short tracks and superspeedways, where race craft and restarts play a major role. His ability to push a teammate into the lead, as seen at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400, demonstrates the patience and timing required at the sport’s highest level. His pole-winning speed at Richmond and Martinsville also suggests strong single-lap qualifying pace when the setup is right.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature moments in Retzlaff’s young career include his career-best fourth-place finish in the 2023 Xfinity Series opener at Daytona, his first career poles at Richmond and Martinsville in 2024, and his seventh-place Cup finish at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400. His elevated second-place run at Rockingham in 2025 stands as his current career-best Xfinity result.
Parker Retzlaff Career Wins
Across his national NASCAR career to date, Retzlaff has not yet recorded a victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, or the NASCAR Cup Series. His strongest results have come through poles, top-five finishes, and consistent top-ten runs.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
Retzlaff’s first full-time Xfinity season came in 2023 with Jordan Anderson Racing, where he scored one top-five and seven top-tens. In 2024, he added his first two career poles at Richmond and Martinsville, marking a major milestone for both himself and the team. His best career Xfinity finish remains the second-place result at Rockingham in 2025, earned after post-race inspection moved him up from third.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the national series, Retzlaff won the 2014 Wisconsin Bandolero Series championship and the 2012 Wisconsin Junior Sprints mid-season title. He also posted a runner-up result in the 2020 ARCA Menards Series East standings with five top-tens for Cook-Finley Racing.
Parker Retzlaff Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Retzlaff’s immediate family remains limited. He grew up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where his early racing career began at local short tracks. His steady climb through regional series suggests strong family support during his formative years.
Personal Life
Retzlaff continues to reside in his hometown of Rhinelander, Wisconsin. He counts NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson among his racing heroes and enjoys playing basketball, working on race cars, and occasionally racing on his iRacing simulator during his free time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season marked Retzlaff’s first year with Alpha Prime Racing, driving the No. 4 Chevrolet. The transition came after two seasons with Jordan Anderson Racing and gave him a new technical package and team environment.
The defining moment came on April 19 at Rockingham, where Retzlaff drove to a third-place finish that was elevated to second after the apparent race winner was disqualified in post-race inspection. That result set a new career best and signaled the speed the Alpha Prime program had unlocked.
Retzlaff finished the 2025 campaign outside the playoff picture but with clear momentum heading into 2026. On November 7, 2025, his move to Viking Motorsports was announced, pairing him with the No. 99 Chevrolet and positioning him for a fresh opportunity to chase his first national series victory.
