The 22 year old addition to the DGR-Crosley truck series team for this years truck season. Natalie Decker has had the perfect example of a rookie season in a major NASCAR racing series. The unfortunate thing though is the young lady has received so much negativity as back lash due to her unfortunate luck this season. This driver has nothing, but the sky as the limit. Let me give you a little bit of back story on one of the growing stars to show you she has a very bright future ahead.

Some Info On Natalie

Natalie has had her goals set on being successful in the motor sports industry from the start. She started off with a successful run in her early ages of getting behind the wheel of a go kart in Wisconsin. This young lady has won four different go karts track championships in her home state. The thing is she didn’t play around in the go karts for long before jumping head first into full size stock car racing. She became the CWSSA Super Stock Champion out of a field of thirty five super talented drivers. From there she went onto have some limited success in the limited late model divisions. So, to show some of the statisticians that she’s not far off lets compare her to someone who’s on the opposite end of the spectrum in truck series news Ross Chastain.

Comparison’s

Natalie and Ross

Ross Chastain has been one of the hottest names really in stock car racing this year. With him winning at Kansas to start off then deciding to run for the truck championship, but Ross didn’t start out the phenom that he is today.

Let’s start off by saying at this point Natalie is in the early parts of her young career with DGR-Crosley. Her best finish being thirteenth at Las Vegas earlier this year. The season I am comparing with Ross will be 2012 and Ross raced twenty two races with Bobby Dotter as his truck owner. Ross’s had a best finish that year of third at Bristol. How ever I am only going to compare the first fourteen races of the 2012 season for Ross as well as Natalie’s first fourteen races this season. Below is the comparison of each driver thru fourteen truck races.

Natalie Decker
Ross Chastain (2012)
Age: 22 19
Average Finish: 22.6 19.5
Average Finish: 22.6 18.3
Laps Led:01
DNF’s : 8 4
Natalie Kansas wreck

So, some glaring number’s stick out when they are side by side like that right? Mainly the average finish and DNF’s. Let me maybe give you something to consider though 2019 has been Natalie’s first experience racing in the truck series for multiple races. Ross before 2012 did have a five race experience stent in 2011 and all five of those races are valuable time on the track. Natalie is really still learning the ropes behind the wheel of these trucks each time she straps in for a race. Also I have witness multiple times that the young lady has been taken out of races due to no fault of her own. A lot of the backlash she is receiving is unnecessary.

Conclusion

Natalie and Deegan

Natalie Decker has potential that is outrageously high, but she is new to the truck series. A few bad races and some inconsistency her first year should not discount her from any future opportunities to secure and race in the truck series again. Not to mention she is not behind the wheel every week they race she is still just a part time driver. The experience she continues to gain will only help her turn the potential she has into results. Also I mean there are other huge benefits to her in the sport.

Natalie is a huge advocate for rheumatoid arthritis due to her unfortunately suffering from it her whole life. Her addition to the sport can lead to motivation to anyone suffering them selves. It is much like the addition of a younger female driver like Hailie Deegan. The additions give younger girls and or any one else a driver to root for and it also gives them the ability to believe in themselves. If they want to pursue a career in motor sports of any form. Because if a positive role model like Natalie or even Hailie has ANY form of success it will only promote good things. Keep your eye on Natalie because like I mentioned above the sky is the limit for her, and I personally look forward to her career growing.

About Author

Chris Prince

What's up, everyone? My name is Chris Prince. I have been a part of Belly Up sports for a little bit now. I am the head of the best department which is the racing department. I have a beautiful wife and I have three awesome sons in whom I am trying to instill the love of motorsports. If you want to know anything else feel free to ask!

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