Natalie Decker’s husband, Derek Lemke, will make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut this weekend at Iowa Speedway. DGM Racing recently announced that he will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet in Saturday’s HYVEE PERKS 250.
The race is the next step in Lemke’s racing career and makes the couple one of NASCAR’s few active husband-and-wife driver pairings to ever compete in the same national series during a single season.
Lemke will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet with sponsorship from Crankshaft Supply, Rack Shack BBQ, and Burch Farms. The Delano, Minnesota native is joining DGM Racing after spending more than a decade competing across several levels of stock car racing.
His experience includes racing in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series at Elko Speedway, the ARCA Midwest Tour, the CARS Tour, and a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Reaume Brothers Racing.
In a press release from the team, DGM Racing owner Mario Gosselin said he believes Lemke has earned the opportunity through years of work across multiple racing disciplines.
“Derek has worked incredibly hard throughout his racing career, and we’re excited to welcome him to the DGM Racing family. He’s proven himself in a variety of race cars over the years, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish behind the wheel of our No. 91 Chevrolet.”
For Lemke, the Iowa race is a goal he has chased since his early days racing short tracks in Minnesota. He added in that release:
“I’ve dreamed about opportunities like this since I was a kid racing in Minnesota, and Iowa Speedway has been a track I’ve always wanted to race at. I’m incredibly grateful to DGM Racing, Crankshaft Supply, Rack Shack BBQ, Burch Farms, and everyone who has believed in me throughout my career.”
Away from the track, Lemke and Decker live in North Carolina with their 18-month-old son, Levi.
While Decker continues to compete in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, having made three starts this year as well as a handful in the truck Series, Lemke has made two starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Watkins Glen and Dover, where he finished 36th and 34th, respectively.
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