MOTOR SPORTS

Deckers to make debut in Xfinity Series

Tim Johnson
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Auto racing

WAUSAU - Eagle River natives Paige and Claire Decker are both set to make their debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend at the Iowa Speedway.

The sisters will both drive for Obaika Racing during Sunday's American Ethanol E15 250. Paige, 23, will drive the No. 97 and Claire, 21, will be in the No. 77. Vroom Brands is sponsoring both cars.

The move was announced on the Obaika Racing website earlier this week.

Paige 
Decker

“It’s not often you see two girls, yet alone sisters, in a NASCAR race,” Obaika Racing team owner Victor Obaika said on the website release. “So, we are really excited about this opportunity and hopefully this experience will open doors for many more female drivers.”

Claire
Decker

The Xfinity Series is considered a development circuit for promising stock car drivers who have the potential to reach the Sprint Cup Series.

Both sisters have competed in the NASCAR Truck Series in Martinsville this year and Paige and Claire finished 25th and 27th, respectively.

The third sister, 19-year-old Natalie, was scheduled to compete in Thursday's Flip Merwin Memorial at State Park Speedway in Rib Mountain. Natalie leads the Super Late Model points chase at the Speedway.

Natalie was running in third place with two laps to go in last year's Flip Merwin before a collision with Jay VanDerGeest ended her hopes for a win. Tim Sauter won the race for a second straight year,

"Flip was a snowmobile racer and good friend with my dad," Natalie said in a State Park Speedway media release this week   "I admire all snowmobile racers, I think it's one of the toughest sports in the world.  My dad always talks so highly of Flip and how he was such a talented racer with heart and a great person.  Everyone loved Flip, he brought a smile to everyone's race trailer.  This race is so special to me because it's honoring Flip in his hometown."

Kraus signs with PMG

Stratford's Derek Kraus signed with Performance Marketing Group this week, a motorsports marketing organization.

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Kraus, a 14-year-old Late Model racer, won the Midwest Truck Series Championship last year and also was the rookie of the year in the American Ethanol SuperTruck Series. He also is the reigning rookie of the year for the late model series at State Park Speedway and was the youngest driver in the Snowball Derby in Florida this past winter.

STATE PARK SPEEDWAY 

POINT STANDINGS (Top 5)]

Through June 2

Super Late Models: 1. Natalie Decker 177; 2. Justin Mondeik 141; 3. MG Gajewski 137; 4. Jim Sauter 133; 5. Jay VanDerGeest 132.

Limited Late Models: 1. Jesse Bernhagen 463; 2. Lyle Nowak 196; 3. Jerry Brickner 166; 4. Evan Call 162; 5. Phil Malouf 147.

Pure Stocks: 1. Travis Volm 196; 2. Michael Merriam 194; 3. Nickolas Erickson 182; 4. Brock Heinrich 160; 5. Dillon Mackesy 153.

Mini-mods: 1. George Seliger 215; 2. Michael Heidmann 183; 3. James Lietz 182; 4. Phil Malouf 162; 5. Dale Louze 123.

Mini-stocks: 1. Zach Onson 206; 2. Greg Blount 195; 3. Garret Strachota 188; 4. Robb Wruck 183; 5. Brett Breitenfeldt 152.

Bandeleros: 1. Levon VanDerGeest 228; 2. Hannah Wolfe 203; 3. Kolton Guralski 199; 4. Anna Malouf 168; 5. Karter Stark 158.