Natalie Decker Bio
Natalie Marie Decker Lemke, known professionally as Natalie Decker, is an American professional stock car racing driver born on June 25, 1997, in Eagle River, Wisconsin. She has competed across multiple NASCAR national series as well as the ARCA Menards Series, building a reputation as one of the most recognizable female competitors in the sport. She last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 92 Chevrolet Camaro SS for DGM Racing in collaboration with Jesse Iwuji Motorsports.
Throughout her career, Decker has been a pioneer for women in stock car racing, highlighted by her record-setting run in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2020. Her family’s deep roots in snowmobile and short-track racing laid the foundation for her move into open-wheel and stock car competition, where she has continued to chase opportunities at the national level.
Early Life and Background
Natalie Decker was born and raised in Eagle River, Wisconsin, a small northern community known for its winter racing tradition. Her father, Chuck Decker, is the former owner of the Eagle River Derby Track, the home of the famous World Championship Snowmobile Derby, a race he won himself in 1987. The Decker family was prominent in snowmobile racing during the 1970s and 1980s, with Natalie’s uncle Allen Decker serving as a factory rider for Bombardier and once racing alongside the family of fellow driver Danica Patrick.
Growing up around engines and race tracks, Decker began her competitive racing journey in go-karts, winning four karting championships in just two years. She advanced to 4-cylinder modified stock cars at age 12 and later won the 2012 Super Stock class championship at Marshfield Motor Speedway. In 2013, she earned the ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year award, establishing herself as one of the Midwest’s most promising young talents.
Path to NASCAR
Decker’s progression to NASCAR gained national attention in 2014 when she won seven limited late model features and two super late model features. The following year, she was selected for the prestigious NASCAR Drive for Diversity program through Rev Racing, a major milestone that gave her access to better equipment and coaching. In 2016, she competed in the Alan Kulwicki Driver Development program, where she was awarded $7,777 in recognition of her potential.
That same year, Decker joined her cousins Paige Decker and Claire Decker in attempting to qualify for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway, although her MAKE Motorsports entry did not make the field. In 2017, she made her ARCA debut at Toledo Speedway with Venturini Motorsports, finishing eleventh on the lead lap after spending much of the race in the top ten. The strong showing convinced Venturini to sign her for the full 2018 ARCA schedule, where she opened the season by winning the pole at Daytona International Speedway.
Natalie Decker Career
Early Career (2013-2016)
Decker’s early career was defined by steady advancement through the Midwest short-track ranks. After winning karting championships, she moved into stock cars and quickly collected regional titles at Marshfield Motor Speedway. Her 2013 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year season marked her first notable step toward national-level stock car racing.
Her selection into the 2015 NASCAR Drive for Diversity class and the 2016 Alan Kulwicki Driver Development program brought her increased visibility, financial support, and a clearer path toward NASCAR’s national series. These developmental opportunities helped her transition from regional competitor to professional racing prospect.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2019-2020)
Decker made her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2019 with DGR-Crosley, running a partial schedule. Her first race at Daytona ended on the opening lap when her No. 54 Toyota suffered a left front tire failure that ruptured an oil line and set the truck on fire. The difficult debut was followed by additional on-track incidents, including a high-profile garage-area confrontation with fellow driver Spencer Boyd at Kentucky Speedway.
She moved to Niece Motorsports for the 2020 season and quickly delivered a career-defining result. On February 14, 2020, Decker finished fifth at Daytona International Speedway, becoming the highest-finishing female driver in Truck Series history. The season was also marked by health challenges, including hospitalization for bile duct complications and later issues with high blood pressure that caused her to miss several races.
NASCAR Xfinity Series (2021-Present)
Decker made her NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2021, driving the No. 23 for RSS Racing in partnership with Reaume Brothers Racing, beginning at the Daytona Road Course. She remained with the No. 23 entry when Our Motorsports assumed operations later that year. In 2022, she attempted multiple races across several teams but struggled to consistently qualify, including a failed attempt at the Daytona season-opener with Reaume Brothers Racing.
In 2023, she joined Emerling-Gase Motorsports for part-time Xfinity and ARCA competition in the No. 53 entry. By 2024, DGM Racing announced she would drive their No. 36 car for the Xfinity Series opener at Daytona, and she later made additional starts in the team’s No. 92 car, including a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Her partnership with DGM Racing and Jesse Iwuji Motorsports has positioned her for continued part-time opportunities in the series.
Trans-Am and Other Racing
Beyond NASCAR, Decker has competed in the Trans-Am Series, where she has found considerable success. In 2021, she raced multiple events for Tony Ave’s Ave Motorsports team, including a runner-up finish in the SGT class at the Charlotte Roval and another second-place result at Watkins Glen. She won the SGT class race at Circuit of the Americas and claimed the 2021 Trans-Am SGT Class ProAm Challenge Championship.
Earlier in her career, Decker tested a LMP3 sports car at Sebring International Raceway in 2018 and was briefly involved with the 2019 W Series selection process, advancing through the first round of cuts before being eliminated.
Driving Style and Strengths
Decker is known for her competitiveness on superspeedways and high-speed oval tracks, where her drafting skills and aggressive race craft have produced some of her strongest results. Her background in short-track racing has also made her a tenacious competitor in tight, wheel-to-wheel situations, while her experience across multiple disciplines, including Trans-Am sports car racing, has added versatility to her driving style.
Notable Races and Milestones
Her fifth-place finish at Daytona in February 2020 stands as her most significant career milestone, setting the record for the highest finish by a female driver in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history. She has also earned a Trans-Am victory at Circuit of the Americas and an SGT class championship, demonstrating her ability to succeed in multiple racing formats.
Natalie Decker Career Wins
Natalie Decker has recorded race wins at the regional, national, and sports car levels. Her victory lane appearances include four karting championships, a Super Stock class title at Marshfield Motor Speedway, an ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year honor, and a Trans-Am SGT class win at Circuit of the Americas. While she has yet to secure a victory in NASCAR’s three national series, her top-five finishes and milestone results have cemented her status as a trailblazer.
Trans-Am Series Highlights
Decker joined the Trans-Am Series in 2019 with Tony Ave’s Ave Motorsports team and quickly adapted to sports car racing. Her 2021 season was her breakthrough year, highlighted by an SGT class pole at the Charlotte Roval, runner-up finishes, and a victory at Circuit of the Americas that helped her clinch the SGT ProAm Challenge title.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Trans-Am, Decker has accumulated wins in karting, limited late model, and super late model competition in Wisconsin. She also captured the 2013 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year award after a strong third-place finish in the season standings.
Natalie Decker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Decker comes from a well-known Wisconsin racing family with deep roots in snowmobile and stock car competition. Her father, Chuck Decker, won the 1987 World Championship Snowmobile Derby at Eagle River and previously owned the Eagle River Derby Track, now called the World Championship Derby Complex. Her cousins Paige Decker and Claire Decker, daughters of Allen Decker, have also competed in NASCAR, continuing the family’s multi-generational racing tradition.
Personal Life
Natalie Decker is married to fellow NASCAR driver Derek Lemke. The couple became engaged in December 2022 and married on New Year’s Eve in 2023. In February 2025, Decker gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son named Levi, after announcing her pregnancy the previous August. She has also publicly shared her lifelong battle with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition she was first diagnosed with at the age of two.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a transitional year for Natalie Decker as she balances motherhood with her racing ambitions. Approximately six months after giving birth to her son Levi in February 2025, she returned to competition in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 92 Chevrolet Camaro SS for DGM Racing in partnership with Jesse Iwuji Motorsports.
Her part-time Xfinity schedule remains centered on superspeedway and select oval events, allowing her to remain competitive while managing family commitments. She continues to work on securing sponsorship and additional race opportunities, with hopes of expanding her 2025 schedule if funding allows.
Looking ahead, Decker’s partnership with DGM Racing and Jesse Iwuji Motorsports offers a stable platform for her return to full-time competition in future seasons. Her experience across NASCAR’s national series, combined with her Trans-Am success, positions her well for continued opportunities in stock car racing.
