Decker going after rare feat: points titles in two divisions

Ever since she started racing motocross at age 7, Michelle Decker wanted to race sprint cars.

Twenty-eight years later, the State Fair Speedway driver isn't just racing sprint cars — she's winning.

And she has her sights set on accomplishing a feat that only one driver in the history of State Fair Speedway has accomplished: the points championship in both the super and champ sprint divisions.

"I never thought I would get a shot,” said Decker of racing sprints. "To be doing it now is awesome. I love Oklahoma racing.”

While the 2008 season is young, Decker is in position to contend for both titles. She won the champ sprints A-Feature Friday night despite starting in the seventh row, and won the super sprint A-feature two weeks ago.

"We don't look at the points,” Decker said. "We do our job, and all of that will shake out.”

Chris Burns is the only driver who has won both championships. Burns won both titles in each of the past two seasons, but is only racing in the super sprint division in 2008 because of insufficient funds.

"If anyone is going to win both, I said that Michelle has the best chance this year,” said Burns, who is atop the super sprint standings. "But I'm going to try to make sure she doesn't.”

Winning one points championship is difficult enough. While Decker has been close in each of the past three seasons, she has yet to win a points title.

"I think this is one of the toughest Friday night programs in the country,” she said. "You have guys that have raced in national series. With Danny Jennings, Larry Neighbors and Mike Peters and the championships those guys have, you better be on your game every night.”

Burns agreed.

"It is about who can be the most consistent each night, and who can stay out of trouble,” he said. "If she can do that, she can win.”

Don Strawn, the owner of both of Decker's cars, said he is pleased with Decker's 2008 showing thus far.

"She's good, and she will only get better,” Strawn said. "She has been really close in the past. She deserves to win it.”