History of Natalie Decker in Timeline

Natalie Decker is an American professional stock car racing driver currently competing part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. She drives the No. 35 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Joey Gase Motorsports. Decker was a 2015 NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant and a 2016 Alan Kulwicki Driver Development competitor. She is also the cousin of fellow NASCAR drivers Claire and Paige Decker.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1987: Chuck Decker's Championship

In 1987, Natalie Decker's father, Chuck, won the World Championship Derby race at Eagle River.

June 25, 1997: Natalie Decker's Birth

On June 25, 1997, Natalie Marie Decker Lemke was born. She is an American professional stock car racing driver.

Others born on this day/year

2011: Raced in 4-cylinder modified stock cars

In 2011, Decker moved up to the Super Stock class and raced in 4-cylinder modified stock cars as a 12-year-old.

2012: Class Championship at Marshfield Motor Speedway

In 2012, Decker won the Super Stock class championship at Marshfield Motor Speedway.

2013: ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year

In 2013, Decker took the ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year award by finishing third in points. She also took third that season in a three-race Midwest Truck Series at Madison International Speedway.

2014: Limited and Super Late Model Features Wins

In 2014, Natalie Decker won seven limited late model features and two super late model features.

2015: NASCAR Drive for Diversity Participant

In 2015, Natalie Decker was a participant in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program.

April 2, 2016: Failed to Qualify for Alpha Energy Solutions 250

On April 2, 2016, Natalie Decker, along with her cousins Paige and Claire Decker, attempted to qualify for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Natalie Decker was 38th fastest in qualifying, but her MAKE Motorsports entry did not make the race field.

2016: Alan Kulwicki Driver Development Competitor

In 2016, Natalie Decker was a competitor in the Alan Kulwicki Driver Development program.

2017: Seventh at Road America

In 2017, Natalie Decker finished seventh at Road America ARCA race, which was her best finish of the season.

2017: ARCA Debut at Toledo Speedway

In 2017, Natalie Decker made her ARCA debut at Toledo Speedway, driving in three ARCA races for Venturini Motorsports. She finished eleventh on the lead lap after spending much of the race in the top-ten.

August 2018: Eagle River Derby Track Sold

In August 2018, the Eagle River Derby Track, formerly owned by Natalie Decker's father Chuck Decker, was sold and renamed the World Championship Derby Complex.

November 30, 2018: DGR-Crosley Truck Series Announcement

On November 30, 2018, DGR-Crosley announced that Natalie Decker would run a partial Truck Series schedule for the team in the 2019 season, along with some ARCA and K&N Pro Series events.

2018: Full ARCA Schedule and Injury

In 2018, Venturini signed Natalie Decker to drive the full ARCA schedule. She started the season by winning the pole at Daytona and finishing fifth. Later in the season, Decker was injured with a hernia, requiring Brennan Poole to fill in during a race. She finished the season seventh in point standings.

2018: LMP3 Sports Car Test

On January 30 and 31, 2018, Natalie Decker tested a LMP3 sports car at Sebring International Raceway, fielded by Tony Ave.

September 29, 2019: Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

On September 29, 2019, Natalie Decker revealed that she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, which she was first diagnosed with at the age of two.

December 2019: Gall Bladder Surgery

In December 2019, Natalie Decker had gall bladder surgery which later led to complications.

2019: Trans Am Team

In 2019, Decker raced in five events for Ave's Trans Am team, finishing ninth in his TA car at Sebring International Raceway.

2019: W Series Participant

In 2019, Natalie Decker participated in the W Series but did not survive the later rounds of cuts.

2019: Partial Truck Series Schedule

In 2019, Natalie Decker was scheduled to run a partial Truck Series schedule, along with some ARCA and K&N Pro Series events, for DGR-Crosley.

February 14, 2020: Fifth-Place Finish at Daytona

On February 14, 2020, Natalie Decker finished fifth at Daytona, becoming the highest-finishing female driver in Truck Series history.

November 2020: COVID-19 Positive Result

In November 2020, Natalie Decker was scheduled to make her Trans-Am SGT class debut at Road Atlanta, but was forced to miss the race after testing positive for COVID-19.

2020: First ARCA start since 2020

In February 8, 2023, it was announced that Decker would drive part-time for Emerling-Gase Motorsports in the Xfinity Series and the ARCA Menards Series in their No. 53 car in both series. It would be her first ARCA start since 2020 as well as EGM's first time fielding an entry in ARCA.

February 5, 2021: Xfinity Series Debut Announcement

On February 5, 2021, it was announced that Natalie Decker would make her debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021, driving the No. 23 for RSS Racing/Reaume Brothers Racing in at least five races beginning at the Daytona Road Course. Red Street Records would sponsor the car.

August 2022: Sponsor Unapproved

In February 7, 2024, DGM Racing announced that Decker would drive their No. 36 car in the Xfinity Series season-opener at Daytona. Decker was also going to drive the same car at Talladega in April, but like at Daytona in August 2022, had a sponsor that was not approved by NASCAR.