Natalie Decker returns to Daytona weekend as a new mom and the lone woman in the O’Reilly field
Natalie Decker is set to make a notable return to NASCAR competition at Daytona this weekend, less than a year after becoming a mother. The 28-year-old will pilot the No. 35 Chevrolet in the United Rentals 300 at 5 p. m. ET on Saturday, and will be the only woman entered in the second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.
Back in the car after maternity leave
Decker stepped away from full-time competition for more than a year and returned to the track last season, racing at Daytona in August and finishing 22nd. She welcomed her son Levi last February and has spoken openly about the physical and emotional intensity of becoming a parent. The experience, she has said, revealed a new level of strength and perspective that she brings back to racing.
Daytona history and what Decker brings
Daytona has been a career highlight and a source of breakthroughs for women in stock-car racing, and Decker’s record at the track stands out. Her fifth-place finish in the Truck Series at Daytona in 2020 remains the best result by a woman in any of NASCAR’s top three touring series. Across starts in ARCA, trucks and the O’Reilly Series, she has compiled five top-20 finishes at the superspeedway, experience that can pay dividends in the chaotic pack racing that defines Daytona.
Race setup: car, sponsor and race time
Decker will drive the No. 35 Chevrolet fielded by Joey Gase Motorsports, carrying a sponsorship from T. N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel. The United Rentals 300 is scheduled for 5 p. m. ET on Saturday. Superspeedway strategy, lane choice and draft partnerships will be critical, and Decker’s prior Daytona laps — including the August appearance last year — give her a familiarity with the unique mental and tactical demands of the circuit.
Personal story that drew attention off track
Off the track, Decker’s personal life has drawn public interest. She has described meeting her future husband at a local short track when she was a teenager and reconnecting years later by direct message after she turned 18. The couple now share a child, and Decker has said that motherhood reshaped her view of resilience. While moments from her past sparked online reaction, she has emphasized that family is a central part of her life and motivation.
Women at Daytona and the bigger picture
Decker is one of several women entered across the different series at Daytona this weekend, a reminder that female drivers continue to push for visibility in national touring competition. No woman has yet won a NASCAR-sanctioned race at Daytona, though there have been standout performances: a Cup Series pole and an eighth-place finish by one driver in 2013, and second-place runs in the feeder ARCA series by others. Decker’s presence in the O’Reilly field adds experience and an aspirational storyline to the weekend.
What to watch: Decker’s ability to form draft alliances and avoid large incidents will decide her result. With Daytona’s unpredictability, a strong run could put her back on the radar as she balances a return to competition with parenthood.
