Questions have circulated about Vikings Motorsports since the team parted ways with Matt DiBenedetto in mid-October. The team has now provided an answer by revealing it will have a new driver and crew chief lineup leading the No. 99 team.
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According to a Friday press release, Parker Retzlaff will take over the No. 99 as he enters his fourth full-time O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. He will make the move to Viking Motorsports after spending two seasons with Jordan Anderson Racing and one with Alpha Prime Racing.
Danny Efland will move to Viking Motorsports to guide Retzlaff and the No. 99 team. Efland makes the move from AM Racing, where he made the playoffs last season working with Harrison Burton.
We’re excited to welcome @Parker79p and crew chief Danny Efland to our 2026 lineup! ⚔️ SKOL! pic.twitter.com/Ww8UxOoSDH
— Viking Motorsports (@VKNGMotorsports) November 7, 2025
Viking Motorsports will continue to field Chevrolet entries after making the switch from Ford Racing last season. Crew chief Pat Tryson will remain with the team as he transitions to a new role overseeing the shop operations.
"Parker brings youthful energy, talent, and a hunger to win that aligns perfectly with our Viking spirit," team owner Don Sackett said in a press release. "Danny's technical expertise and leadership will strengthen our team in the race shop and at the track.
"Together, they represent the next evolution of Viking Motorsports as we continue to build a program that's truly Forged to Race."
Retzlaff, a Wisconsin native, made his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut during the 2022 season. He made nine starts for RSS Racing and Our Motorsports while posting a 10th-place finish at Richmond Raceway. He then kicked off his full-time career at Jordan Anderson Racing. He finished his rookie season 16th in the standings after posting one top-five finish and seven top-10s.
Retzlaff's last two seasons in the secondary NASCAR series have featured a mix of strong runs and frustrating finishes. He has dealt with mechanical issues and crashes alike that led to 20 DNFs in 65 possible races. He won the pole two times, marking a career achievement, but he also posted only three more top-five finishes and seven top-10s.
Retzlaff will now join a new team as he tries to get back to contending for strong finishes on a more consistent basis. He will do so with Viking Motorsports as the team enters its third season in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
"Joining Viking Motorsports feels like the perfect fit," Retzlaff said. "You can feel the passion and drive this team has from top to bottom. The No. 99 Chevy has huge potential, and I'm ready to give everything I've got for Don, Danny, and the whole Viking family. We're going to fight hard every week."
