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 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing around 130 pounds, Retzlaff has built a reputation as a young, consistent competitor on short tracks and intermediates across the country.
A native of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Retzlaff has climbed the ladder of American stock car racing from local Wisconsin short tracks to the national NASCAR stage. His journey through junior sprints, regional touring series, and ARCA competition has prepared him for a steady role in one of NASCAR’s premier development divisions.
Early Life and Background
Parker Edward Retzlaff was born on May 21, 2003, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Growing up in the small northern Wisconsin city, Retzlaff was introduced to racing at a young age through local short-track events. His early passion for motorsports quickly turned into a serious hobby when his family supported his move into organized competition.
In 2012, at just nine years old, Retzlaff competed in the Wisconsin Junior Sprints, where he won the mid-season championship. That success encouraged him to step up to the Wisconsin Bandolero Series in 2013, where he finished third in points. He returned in 2014 to capture the championship, then ranked second in state points across 2015 and 2016, building a strong reputation across Wisconsin’s grassroots racing scene.
Path to NASCAR
Retzlaff advanced to full-time regional competition in 2017, racing in the ARCA Midwest Tour, where he finished fourteenth in points. He also competed in the Midwest Truck Series asphalt trucks, finishing second in the standings. The following year, he concluded the 2018 Midwest Truck Series ranked sixth overall, proving he could handle heavier equipment on longer tracks.
In 2019, Retzlaff signed with Visconti Motorsports for two races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, now the ARCA Menards Series East. Driving the No. 74, he earned his first top-ten at Memphis International Raceway and his first top-five at Gateway Motorsports Park. He also debuted in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Gateway, finishing fifth. By 2020, he had signed with Cook-Finley Racing for a full ARCA Menards Series East campaign, finishing fourth in the standings with five top-ten finishes.
Parker Retzlaff Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Retzlaff’s professional career began in earnest through the ARCA Menards Series and its East division. After two promising 2019 starts with Visconti Motorsports, he joined Cook-Finley Racing full-time in 2020. Driving the No. 42, he posted five top-tens and finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series East standings, establishing himself as a consistent contender in stock car racing’s development ranks.
In 2021, Retzlaff returned to Cook-Finley Racing for a partial ARCA Menards Series East schedule, with his best finish coming at Southern National Motorsports Park, where he placed fourth. He also made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2020 at Toledo Speedway, finishing eighth, and returned for the paired East race at the Milwaukee Mile in 2021, finishing eleventh. These regional results earned him the attention of larger NASCAR teams.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2022–2024)
On December 3, 2021, Retzlaff signed with RSS Racing for a part-time effort in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 38. He made his series debut at the 2022 United Rentals 200 at Phoenix, qualifying an impressive sixth before a fuel pump issue ended his day early. His best result of the season came at the 2022 ToyotaCare 250, where he started and finished tenth. After parting ways with RSS Racing in September 2022, Retzlaff ran the Texas fall race with Our Motorsports in the No. 02.
On January 4, 2023, Jordan Anderson Racing announced that Retzlaff would drive the No. 31 full-time for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. He opened the year with a career-best fourth-place finish at Daytona, posting one top-five and seven top-tens with an average finish of 17.9, ending the year sixteenth in points. In 2024, Retzlaff returned to Jordan Anderson Racing, capturing his and the team’s first career poles at Richmond and Martinsville. Although he finished twenty-first in points with only four top-tens, his qualifying speed showed real growth. On November 14, 2024, Retzlaff announced he would not return to Jordan Anderson Racing for 2025.
On December 18, 2024, Retzlaff was announced as the driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet for Alpha Prime Racing in the renamed NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. On April 19, Retzlaff drove to a third-place finish at Rockingham, which was later upgraded to second place after the original winner was disqualified in post-race inspection, marking a new career best for the young driver. On November 3, 2025, it was revealed Retzlaff would not return to Alpha Prime Racing for the 2026 season.
Viking Motorsports Era (2026–Present)
On November 7, 2025, Retzlaff announced he would join Viking Motorsports for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro SS. The move paired him with a Chevrolet organization aligned to give him a fresh opportunity to chase his first national series victory. His early results with Viking Motorsports have focused on building consistency and improving his average finishing positions.
Retzlaff continues to compete part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 62 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Halmar Friesen Racing. He made his Truck Series debut on September 26, 2022, at Talladega Superspeedway with Young’s Motorsports. Balancing both series has helped him gain valuable seat time on a variety of track types, from short ovals to superspeedways.
Driving Style and Strengths
Retzlaff has shown particular strength on short tracks and intermediates, where his smooth, consistent pace allows him to capitalize on clean air and late-race restarts. His qualifying speed has become a hallmark of his recent seasons, highlighted by back-to-back poles in 2024. Crew chief chemistry has played a major role in his development, helping him convert raw pace into reliable top-ten finishes.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Retzlaff’s signature moments are his 2024 pole positions at Richmond and Martinsville, his fourth-place run in the 2023 Daytona season-opener, and his career-best second-place finish at Rockingham in 2025. His NASCAR Cup Series debut came in the 2024 Cook Out 400 at Richmond with MBM Motorsports, and he followed it with a strong seventh-place run in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona after pushing Harrison Burton to the lead in overtime.
Parker Retzlaff Career Wins
Across his professional stock car career, Parker Retzlaff has yet to record a national NASCAR victory, though he has been a regular threat in qualifying and top-ten competition. His career has been built on steady improvement, fast lap times, and a knack for being in the right place at the end of long runs.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
Retzlaff competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and has made 23 top-ten finishes with two poles, including his first career pole at Richmond in 2024. He has yet to score a win in the series, but his career-best second-place finish at Rockingham in 2025 showed he is closing the gap to victory lane. His best season standings finish remains sixteenth in 2023 with Jordan Anderson Racing.
Other Wins and Performances
Retzlaff has notched wins at the regional level, including championships in the Wisconsin Junior Sprints and Wisconsin Bandolero Series during his formative years. He earned a runner-up result in the 2017 Midwest Truck Series asphalt trucks and finished fourth in the 2020 ARCA Menards Series East standings. He has also recorded one top-ten in the ARCA Menards Series and two top-tens in the ARCA Menards Series West during limited appearances.
Parker Retzlaff Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Parker Retzlaff grew up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where his family supported his early racing efforts through local short-track competition. His progression from junior sprints at age nine to national NASCAR competition reflects years of family commitment to his motorsports career. Retzlaff continues to be closely connected to his Wisconsin roots throughout his professional journey.
Personal Life
Retzlaff currently resides in his hometown of Rhinelander, Wisconsin. He is a fan of NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson and enjoys playing basketball, working on race cars, and occasionally racing on his iRacing simulator during his free time. Off the track, he remains connected to his northern Wisconsin community and the grassroots racing scene that shaped him.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season marked Parker Retzlaff’s first year with Alpha Prime Racing, where he drove the No. 4 Chevrolet. After a strong start, he recorded a career-best second-place finish at Rockingham in April, which was later upgraded from third after post-race inspection disqualified the original winner. His qualifying pace and average running position showed clear improvement throughout the year.
By season’s end, Retzlaff finished twenty-second in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings, with multiple top-ten finishes across the schedule. He continued to develop chemistry with his crew chief and the Alpha Prime Racing team, focusing on converting strong race pace into consistent top-fives. His progress in 2025 reinforced his reputation as a rising talent in NASCAR’s development pipeline.
Looking ahead, Retzlaff’s move to Viking Motorsports for 2026 signals a fresh chapter in his career. With continued part-time Truck Series starts at Halmar Friesen Racing and a full-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series ride, he remains positioned to chase his first national series victory in the seasons ahead.
