NATALIE DECKER Returns to NASCAR Xfinity After 6-Month Mom Break at Daytona

August 24, 2025

by Palak Gupta // from www.sportskeeda.com

• NATALIE DECKER made her triumphant return to NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at Daytona after a six-month break following the birth of her son Levi. She qualified on owner points and delivered a solid 22nd-place finish in the No. 92 DGM Racing Chevrolet, marking her second-best result since her career-high 18th at Daytona in 2024. The emotional comeback wasn’t just about getting back behind the wheel – she brought baby Levi trackside, living out her vision of raising their family in the racing environment.
• By racing at Daytona as a mother, DECKER joined an incredibly exclusive club of just eight women who have competed in NASCAR’s top three series after having children. The list includes pioneers like Shawna Robinson and Sara Christian, proving that motherhood and racing excellence aren’t mutually exclusive. For DECKER, this wasn’t just a personal milestone but a statement about what’s possible when we refuse to accept that having kids means giving up racing dreams.
• The 28-year-old Wisconsin native has built an impressive racing resume that includes a historic fifth-place finish in the NASCAR Truck Series – the best result by a woman in that series. From starting in karts at nine to testing stock cars at twelve, DECKER’s journey through the Drive for Diversity program to owning her own Super Late Model team with husband Derek shows the kind of dedication that makes comebacks like this possible. Her 13th Xfinity start proved she hasn’t missed a beat despite the time away.

daytona international speedway, dgm racing, jesse iwuji motorsports, nascar xfinity series