Decker Eyes Success at First Career Florida Governors Cup
CONCORD, N.C.– Super Late Model racing has been kind to Natalie Decker in 2015. After a successful year so far, which includes a handful of wins in the Midwest, the 18-year-old Wisconsin native travels to New Smyrna Speedway (FL) this weekend to make her first ever Florida Governors Cup 200 start.
“When our team was racing Oktoberfest in La Crosse, we were talking about how we would like to race the Governor’s Cup,” said Decker, “The next day a race fan that has been following me since I was 12 years old, wrote a check to our team so we could afford to go. Jed Bauer is the fan who is making a difference in my life and I am very thankful.”
While this weekend marks Decker’s first time competing in the prestigious Governor’s Cup event, she is no stranger to the New Smyrna Speedway half-mile. Decker has traveled to Florida the past two seasons for the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, competing 14 times and picking up four top-10 finishes, all in 2014.
“I have a lot of laps at New Smyrna from racing Speedweeks the last two years,” said Decker. “My car chief, Tom Ress, and I learned that track together which is a big advantage because we both will be starting where we left off and will continue to keep improving.”
Decker hopes her experience at New Smyrna pays off as this year’s field for the 50th Governor’s Cup is stacked with talent.
“The competition will be tough and there will be some home track racers that know the track really well,” said Decker. “I am confident Tom Ress will have a great car set up. During the race, I need to stay out of trouble and maintain my smooth driving to save the tires so I can be in position towards the end of the race to get the checkered flag.”
Practice gets underway Friday for the 50th running of the Governor’s Cup with qualifying on Saturday and the 200-lap event taking place on Sunday afternoon.
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/Natalie Decker PR