A recent appearance by NASCAR driver Natalie Decker on the Speedway Sessions podcast has ignited a firestorm of controversy. During the interview with Matt Tifft, the 28-year-old Decker detailed the origins of her relationship with her husband, Derek Lemke, leading some fans and observers to raise allegations of grooming.
The Timeline of Events
The controversy centers on the age gap and the nature of their first contact. According to the podcast:
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Initial Meeting: Decker met Lemke at a racetrack in Elko when she was 14 years old. Lemke was approximately 18 at the time.
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The Message: Decker alleged that after meeting at the track, Lemke reached out via Instagram DM, reportedly saying, “Call me when you’re 18.”
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Reconnection: The pair eventually reconnected after Decker turned 18. She noted that she initiated contact on Valentine’s Day with a provocative photo, leading to a continuous relationship from that point on.
The couple married in December 2023 and celebrated the birth of their first child in February 2025.
Backlash and “Grooming” Allegations
The revelation prompted immediate discomfort from co-host Matt Tifft, who asked during the recording, “Is that grooming? I feel like that’s grooming.” While Decker appeared to laugh off the comment, the public reaction has been far more critical.
Key Reactions Include:
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Social Media Outcry: Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to label the story “disturbing” and “inappropriate.”
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Content Removal: Following the intense backlash, Tifft deleted the specific clip from his social media accounts, though the full episode reportedly remains available.
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Silence from the Couple: Neither Decker nor Lemke have released a formal statement addressing the criticism.
Career Context
Natalie Decker has been a occasional-fixture in NASCAR’s developmental series, including the Xfinity Series (now O’Reilly Auto Parts Series). Most recently, she competed at Daytona, though her racing performance resulted in a questionable crash into another truck under caution on Friday.
