Since Natalie Decker made her second start of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season at Dover Motor Speedway in May, her husband Derek Lemke has made two starts behind the wheel of the same No. 22 Team Reaume Ford himself.
Lemke, who made his NASCAR debut in the series in 2023, had not been back in the series until the race at Nashville Superspeedway back in May. After placing a career-high 21st in that race, he returned this past weekend at Richmond Raceway and finished 24th.
He also recently made his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Iowa Speedway with DGM Racing with Jesse Iwuji Motorsports and finished 26th.
Derek Lemke replacement confirmed for New Hampshire
Following his respectable performances across his races this season, Lemke does not currently have any other starts lined up for the 2026 season, although with the No. 22 Ford still without any confirmed drivers for the upcoming seven-race postseason, that remains subject to change.
In this Saturday afternoon's regular season finale at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it's NASCAR veteran Patrick Emerling who is set to make his first start of the 2026 Truck Series season in the No. 22 truck.
Emerling, who currently competes part-time for RSS Racing in the O'Reilly Series, has not competed in a Truck Series race since the 2025 race at New Hampshire, one of his three starts in the series a year ago. Prior to 2025, he hadn't driven a truck since 2017.
As for Decker, she also does not have any further Truck Series starts lined up for 2026, following what was a much-maligned performance in her most recent outing at Dover. She was black-flagged for being too slow in not only that race but also in the road course race at Watkins Glen International the week prior.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway's Team EJP 175 is set to be shown live on Fox Sports 1 starting at 1:30 p.m. ET this Saturday, August 22, so begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don't miss any of the action from the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular season finale!
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