JAY, Okla. — Nathan Parker didn’t believe it when he learned he won his inaugural Ultra4 USA race.
Three weeks ago, at the Big Sky 200 in Broadview, Mont., the 14-year-old made his first start in the series’ 4900 UTV Stock class. All he was expecting was to acquire some seat time, but the youngster got more than he bargained for.
“I wasn’t expecting to win,” Parker said. “But it was so exciting for the whole team, because we were just getting started into Ultra4 racing, so it was very big for us.”
Despite being a rookie in Ultra4, the North Carolina native isn’t new to four-wheel racing.
He’s been logging laps on a four-wheeler ever since he was four years old. But it wasn’t until recently that Parker was introduced to side-by-side racing — which was instigated by his dad, Robert Parker.
Two years ago, Robert Parker made the trek to Johnson Valley, Calif., to co-drive with a friend at King of the Hammers — one of Ultra4’s crown jewel events — and get a better sense of what the off-road racing scene was like.
“They didn’t do too good at Hammers,” Nathan Parker recalled. “But then the next year, my dad was the driver and they did very well.”
Following King of the Hammers in 2022, Nathan Parker climbed in the cockpit to co-drive for his dad during the remaining races on the Ultra4 schedule.
“I was very surprised by how capable and fast the cars are. It just amazed me, what these cars can do,” Nathan said. “One of the races we did, we were going so fast, I didn’t know how he could drive that fast.”
The experience was enough to persuade Nathan to pilot his own machine — the No. 900 lime-green UTV — which his dad helped him prepare for the 2023 season.
However, tragedy struck the Parker family in April, two months after Robert Parker returned for a third attempt at King of the Hammers. Robert Parker died unexpectedly at age 38, leaving Nathan to carry on the Team Momentum banner.
While emotional, Nathan Parker has found solace in racing.
“I’ve just been along for the ride this season,” Nathan said. “My dad helped prep all the cars and helped with just about everything on the team. We’ve just been taking whatever comes at us and it’s been going pretty well so far.”
The rookie has been able to lean on teammate Kyle Chaney, who drives the No. 191 Team Momentum entry, as both a mentor for driving advice and an extra hand in the race shop.
“So far, it’s been good advice that he’s given,” Nathan said with a smile. Chaney has topped the 4900 UTV Pro Mod field three times this year, boasting a perfect season record on the Ultra4 USA circuit.
This week, during Visions Off-Road at Oklahoma’s MidAmerica Outdoors, the 14-year-old is hunting another victory.
“Seeing that we can win the Pro Stock class, I’d be happy to take home another win. But just a good, clean race would be fine with me,” Nathan said.
Watch Parker and all of the Ultra4 USA events from Visions Off-Road steamed live by MidAmerica Outdoor Events (Aoe.tv).