Decker Doubles-Down with Wisconsin Wins
EAGLE RIVER, WI– Natalie Decker doubled down in Wisconsin this weekend; she scored back to back wins in the Cheesehead State and her first Super Late Model victories of 2016.
The 18 year-old Decker started off her weekend by taking the checkers at State Park Speedway on Friday night, then backed it up with a late race pass for the win Saturday night at Marshfield Motor Speedway.
“Getting two wins this weekend felt better than waking up to presents under the Christmas tree,” said Decker. “I went into this weekend really wanting the wins at both tracks. After not being able to race the ARCA Midwest Tour race at SPS, because of engine issues, our team was determined to get “Ella” (car) ready for this weekend.”
Decker started from the pole position Friday night at State Park Speedway in Wausau, WI. The Eagle River, Wisconsin driver got a good jump at the drop of the green and never looked back. She led all 60 laps en route to picking up her fourth career Super Late model win at the quarter-mile track.
“My crew chief, Tom Ress, gave me a great set-up for the 60 lap feature and I was able to pull away from the field and maintain my lead for the entire way,” said Decker.
The win on Friday was just the start of a busy weekend for Decker. Saturday afternoon she and her team practiced at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, Wisconsin and then traveled over to Marshfield Speedway to race that night.
Decker started the 30-lap feature from the sixth position and quickly moved her way to the front. As the laps wound down, she maneuvered her way into third position. Decker held the bumper of second place car Dalton Zehr as he made the pass for the lead. That put Decker up to second.
Decker sized up Zehr and on the white flag lap made her move. The two battled side by side the final time around the track with Decker grabbing the win by a narrow margin.
“On the last lap I went for the pass on the inside and 7-11 made a great move to stop me from passing, but I decided to take the outside line in turn three and we battled side by side and I got the win by only 3 feet,” said Decker. “It was such a fun race competing for the win with such a talented driver in the 7-11 car. Having to battle for the win like we did makes me feel like I really earned it.”
Decker looks to keep her streak alive as she heads to Golden Sands Speedway Monday for the Dick Trickle Memorial event. Decker picked-up a win at the Plover, Wisconsin track in 2015 and looks for her third win in ten days.
For more information on Natalie Decker, follow her on Twitter at @ndecker04 and like her page on Facebook by searching “Natalie Decker.”
Sources: 51 Sports