Who Is Natalie Decker Lemke, Gorgeous NASCAR Racer Who Has Arthritis?
Within the realm of NASCAR, Natalie Decker Lemke is shattering stereotypes.
Decker has set milestones in the racing industry and is one of just two female drivers in the Xfinity series of NASCAR.
When Decker was twelve years old, she began racing and within two years won four championships in karting.
She started competing in the ARCA Midwest Tour in 2013, and after finishing third in the series, she was named Rookie of the Year.
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Before making her debut in NASCAR in 2019, Decker moved around in the ARCA series.
In 2019, she began competing in the Craftsman Truck Series, where she had a part-time schedule.
But in 2020, she made waves by finishing in fifth place at Daytona, which set a record for the highest finish for a female driver in the Craftsman Truck Series.
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Decker received a drive in the Xfinity Series, the NASCAR racing division beneath the Cup Series, the pinnacle of the sport, as a result of her achievement in the Craftsman Series.
She raced in the Xfinity series after making her debut at the Super Start Batteries 188 in 2021.
Currently 26 years old, Decker competes in NASCAR and is attempting to become the first female driver in the Cup Series since Danica Patrick’s retirement in 2018.
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According to Decker, her current identity is shaped by the challenges she encounters in her sport. Reaching her goals seems even more rewarding because of those obstacles.
“There are so many obstacles when it comes to trying to live out a dream, but those obstacles make you who you are,” Decker said to NASCAR.
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“Every time you come to a big obstacle and get through it, it makes getting to that goal so much better.”
Decker, who drives the No. 36 Chevy this season, is now ranked 23rd out of 33 drivers.
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She took the lead in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Sunday in Daytona, making history as the third female driver to do so.
This year, in addition to the Xfinity series, she will drive part-time in the ARCA series.
