Michelle Decker

Michelle Decker is a veteran midget and sprint car driver from Guthrie, Oklahoma, who’s been holding her own against the boys in some of dirt racing’s toughest series for well over a decade—and she’s got the feature wins to prove it.

EARLY YEARS

Details about Decker’s birthdate and early life remain sparse in public records, but what’s clear is that she came up through the Oklahoma dirt racing scene where she learned to wrestle sprint cars and midgets around red clay ovals. By the time she hit the national stage, she was already a seasoned competitor with a reputation for fearlessness and racecraft.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the cockpit, Decker caught a brief taste of the spotlight when she was selected as one of fifty drivers—including ten other women—for the racing reality TV show Racin’ for a Livin’[1]. While information about her interests outside of racing is limited, her participation in the show suggests she’s not afraid to step into new arenas and represent women in motorsports on a broader platform.

EARLY SUCCESS

Decker established herself as a serious contender in the ASCS Sooner Region, where she consistently ranked among the top ten in points. She also competed in the POWRi West Midget Series, where she ran third in the standings and proved she could run with—and beat—the best[2]. Racing for Shannon McQueen, Decker claimed a historic USAC Western States Midget feature win in April 2012 at Bakersfield Speedway, making McQueen the first female owner to boast a win with a female driver[3]. It was a milestone moment for both women and a signal that Decker wasn’t just participating—she was winning.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2012: Won USAC Western States Midget feature at Bakersfield Speedway, leading all 30 laps and becoming only the second female to win a USAC Mopar Midget Series feature[4].
• 2015: Competed in the Chili Bowl Nationals as part of McQueen Racing’s all-female three-car team alongside Shannon McQueen and Amber Balcaen[5].
• 2015: Won POWRi West Midget feature at Port City Raceway in Oklahoma[6].
• Career: Competed in 302 races across multiple series with 15 wins, 27 podiums, and consistently strong finishes in the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association, Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Cars National Series, and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series[7].

INSPIRATIONS

Information about Decker’s personal inspirations is not publicly available, but her long-term collaboration with Shannon McQueen—a pioneering female team owner and 2012 USAC Western State Champion—suggests a mutual respect and shared mission to prove women belong at the top levels of dirt racing[8].

REPUTATION

Decker is known as a tough, consistent competitor who doesn’t back down. She’s raced everything from sprint cars to midgets across the Midwest and beyond, earning respect in paddocks where women are still vastly outnumbered. Her ability to lead races wire-to-wire and compete year after year in grueling series like the Chili Bowl Nationals—where she’s made 21 starts—cements her reputation as a driver with staying power[9]. She’s not flashy, but she’s real, and in a sport that chews up pretenders, that counts for everything.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Decker continues to compete in the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series and remains a regular entry at the Chili Bowl Nationals, including the 2025 event[10]. While specific future goals haven’t been publicly stated, her continued presence on competitive rosters suggests she’s still chasing feature wins and proving that longevity in dirt racing isn’t just a guy thing.

REFERENCES

[1] Michelle Decker – WomenInRacing.org
[2] McQueen Racing Announces All-Female Three-Car Team for 2015
[3] McQueen Racing Announces All-Female Three-Car Team for 2015
[4] Short-Track Roundup: Last-lap thrillers, hall of famers, results and more – Autoweek
[5] Blog Archives – Amber Balcaen Racing
[6] Michelle Decker – Auto Racing Records
[7] Michelle Decker – Driver Database
[8] McQueen Happy To See More Women Racing At Chili Bowl – Speed Sport
[9] Michelle Decker Chili Bowl Nationals Stats and Results – DIRTRACKR
[10] 2025 Chili Bowl Prelim Night Rosters Revealed – FloRacing