Decker competes in NASCAR event

Paige Decker of Eagle River competed in her first NASCAR-sanctioned event March 28, as she tried to make the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race field at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Va.It was one of the most memorable days of my racing career, said Decker. Getting to this race would not have been possible without the support from my hometown, Eagle River.During her spring break, Decker, 22, spent time walking into businesses in Eagle River and telling them about her upcoming race plans and how bad she wanted to be in a NASCAR race.Because of the amount of money that I raised from my hometown sponsors, I continued forward with the process of going to Martinsville, said Decker.The weekend at Martinsville was a tough one for the up-and-coming racer.This was the first time that I sat in the truck and the first time I have ever driven something of that caliber, said Decker. Practice was rained out on Friday, so we only got an hour and a half that night.During qualifying, there were a total of 36 trucks competing for the race and they only were taking 28 based on time.We just missed the cut off by one spot, unfortunately, said Decker.In that feature event, Joey Logano made a bold move pay off on a late restart to capture the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.Logano started third on a green-white-checkered restart and shot under leader Matt Crafton headed into the first turn. Logano came out of the second turn in first and was never challenged again in picking up his first Martinsville Speedway win.While Decker didnt make the cut, she gained from the experience.I am beyond pleased with all the support from my family, friends, sponsors and Mike Harmon Racing for giving me this opportunity, she said. I am not giving up and I am currently working on my next NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start.Decker, who is a student at University of Wisconsin-Stout, is working towards competing in Iowa Friday, June 19, for the American Ethanol 200 race. She is majoring in early childhood education. This summer, she also will be racing a Super Late Model stock car across the Midwest.Decker said her Hometown Proud sponsors for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville were: Butler Dental Office, Trackside, Elcho Trucking, Kent Elliot, Friendship House, Steve Denamur, World Championship Snowmobile Derby, World Snowmobile Headquarters and CornerStone Custom Builders.If anyone has questions or is interested in donating for the rear Hometown Proud panel of Deckers truck, they can contact her at deckerp8980@my.uwstout.edu