On Wednesday, Natalie Decker announced that she is expecting her first child with fellow racer Derek Lemke.
The 2018 pole sitter at the season opening Daytona race for the ARCA Menards Series married Lemke on New Year’s Eve in 2023.
Thus far this season she has made two starts in the Xfinity Series with DGM Racing with a best finish of 18th at Daytona.
A little bit of heaven sent down to earth making our little dream come true 🤍 pic.twitter.com/fsxqIcQMlI
— Natalie Decker (@NatalieRacing) August 14, 2024
Fans and critics alike pounced on the news with some even suggesting it was a retirement announcement to which Decker responded.
I don’t owe anybody an answer for anything, but I want to make one thing clear once a race car driver always a race car driver. I’ll be back in the car in 2025. https://t.co/FuyTFWHW2z
— Natalie Decker (@NatalieRacing) August 14, 2024
Say what you want, but it’s far more likely that Decker is competing in a NASCAR event in 2025 than her critics.
