With the NASCAR season off to a roaring start, the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas has been the stage for both triumph and heartache. As competitors in the Cup and Xfinity Series navigate the revamped 2.3-mile, 20-turn national course, the results have been anything but predictable. Among the surprises was the disappointing performance of Parker Retzlaff, an erstwhile ally of Kyle Busch, who failed to qualify for the Focused Health 250.
Retzlaff, only 21 years of age, is experiencing a jarring start to his NASCAR second-tier career. His lackluster performance at Daytona and Atlanta Motor Speedway left him finishing 29th and 27th respectively. To add insult to injury, he landed at a devastating 40th place at COTA, driving the No. 4 Chevy for Alpha Prime Racing, leaving him and his team in a state of disbelief.
The young driver from Wisconsin was left speechless by his disheartening non-qualification. He took to social media to express his regret, saying, “I don’t even know what to say. Never in my life was this even a thought. I’m sorry to my team, my sponsors, and everyone who supports me.”
What makes Retzlaff’s performance at COTA all the more puzzling is the fact that his teammate, Brennan Poole, who uses the same equipment, finished 32nd in the qualifying standings. Retzlaff, however, lagged four seconds behind pole position holder Connor Zilisch, and trailed almost a second behind another teammate, Brad Perez.
It could be speculated that Retzlaff’s struggle might be attributed to the overhauled layout of the COTA. He had managed respectable 17th and 11th place finishes in 2023 and the subsequent year respectively. This year’s 40th place finish is a stark departure from his previous performances. Regardless, Retzlaff seems determined to make amends at Phoenix Raceway, where the 2025 GOVX 200 will be held.
Alpha Prime Racing’s woes aren’t limited to Retzlaff’s performance alone. The team, formerly known as Martins Motorsports and co-owned by Craig Martins, Tommy Joe Martins, and Caesar Bacarella, has been grappling with finding its footing in NASCAR’s second tier. Despite concerted efforts to enhance on-track performance, the team has seen little success.
Tommy Joe Martins accepted responsibility for the team’s disappointing results, tweeting, “The worst day in company history & I take full responsibility for it. @Parker79p & @bradxperez are both great racecar drivers. I’m sorry to their sponsors & teams who trusted APR & myself. I haven’t put us in a position to succeed. I’m embarrassed, & will be for a very long time.”
Yet, there’s no time for self-pity in the fast-paced world of motorsports. Alpha Prime Racing is looking to redeem their reputation through Brennan Poole’s performance at the COTA. Furthermore, the No. 45 and No. 4 teams are already setting their sights on the upcoming race in Phoenix, aiming to avoid another disappointing outcome. As they strive to decipher the root of their underperformance, it’s clear that the ride ahead will be anything but smooth.