Natalie Decker has made a handful of starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series over the past three seasons.
Though she hasn't had much success to show for it, that hasn't stopped her from trying to make a name for herself. The Eagle River, Wisconsin, native will now head to Daytona for the Xfinity Series opening race.
Decker has bagged a ride with DGM Racing to drive the No. 36 Chevrolet and try to qualify for the United Rentals 300, according to Joy Tomlinson from Frontstetch.com.
Decker has made plenty of noise outside of a race car with her social media presence and her marriage to fellow racer Derek Lemke in the offseason. Lemke made a couple of starts in the Truck Series in 2023.
As for Decker, her attempt with DGM is in a third car for the team owned by Mario Gosselin, a long-time racer in his own right.
Her attempt comes with a new sponsor as she partners with Amped Fitness Gym, a top-of-the-line fitness center with more than 20 locations across Alabama and Florida.
Decker announced the sponsor officially via her X page.
See you in Daytona! I couldn?t be anymore AMPED UP to be racing with @ampedfitnessgym in the @dgm_racing_ #36 Xfinity car ? pic.twitter.com/MUGvmgffsF
— Natalie Decker (@NatalieRacing) February 8, 2024
"See you in Daytona!" Decker tweeted. "I couldn't be anymore AMPED UP to be racing with @ampedfitnessgym in the @dgm_racing_ #36 Xfinity car (heart emoji)."
Decker will have a challenge ahead of her as she will likely have to qualify on speed to make the race in Daytona. She made two starts in the series in 2023 for two different teams, SS-Green Light Racing and Emerling-Gase Motorsports, and she has 32 career starts in the Craftsman Truck Series, including a best-finish of 5th in 2020 at "The World Center of Racing."
Decker will have some work to do but has plenty of experienced drivers as teammates with two other DGM cars heading to Daytona.
She won't be the only female in the field as Hailie Deegan begins her first full-time Xfinity Series season.
Best of luck to both, as it has been a long time since more than one female was in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
