After cutting his teeth as a seasonal warehouse hand for Jackson-Dawson Motorsports, he was quickly promoted to managing Michelin race tires, then on to event coordinator, managing programs for OEMs like Volvo and BMW, as well as celebrities such as Richard Petty. Knowing talent when he saw it, Hall of Fame inductee Frank DeAngelo brought Nate into his team at Jackson Motorsports. He excelled in the new position of Program Manager for BFGoodrich Tires, one of the company’s largest clients. It was here that the dust, grit, sweat, and tears of desert racing permeated his genetic makeup.
Providing key support to BFG’s efforts in short course, desert racing, and rock sports, Nate was the guy behind the scenes, managing logistics and putting out fires. His next assignment, which he mastered over the past 15 years, was working with SCORE International in developing race routes, defining pit locations, access tracks, driver notes, and creating GPS files.
“Baja is probably one of my favorite places in the world. The people first, they are great. They allow us into their homes, they want to cook for us, they want to show us their country. I instill in my teams that we are guests in their land and the importance of being respectful.”
Nate’s passion for Baja and its people goes beyond the usual armchair referee. He has been an active participant in south-of-the-border charities supporting disaster relief, schools, and missions. Recently helped raise significant funding for a young girl fighting cancer, as well as a cattle ranching family that had lost nearly everything to a hurricane.
Sal Fish, Hall of Fame inductee and 40-year President of SCORE International, said, “From the very beginning of his time in the desert, Nate was filled with passion, dedication to the industry, working diligently for the betterment of the sport. The effect has been significant growth in our industry while at the same time putting together programs that give back to the people of Baja.”
