CONCORD, N.C. -- ARCA rookie Natalie Decker was home Saturday recovering from hernia surgery performed at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte on Friday, a day after she finished 15th in the General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Venturini Motorsports spokesman Tom Venturini said Friday's outpatient procedure to repair a tear in Decker's abdomen was scheduled. He said the 20-year-old first experienced symptoms after the April 27 race at Talladega (Alabama) Superspeedway. Decker's physician, Dr. Kent Kercher, cleared her to compete in the May 20 ARCA race in Toledo, Ohio, and Thursday's event at the 1.5-mile Charlotte track.
"We are hoping that she races at Pocono [June 1]," Venturini said Saturday. "The doctor told her if she's feeling good, she could race Friday."
Venturini said the 20-year-old Toyota driver wouldn't participate in Wednesday's open test at the 2.5-mile Pocono track and it probably would be Tuesday before they knew if she would compete in the race.
Decker and Chase Purdy were tied for fifth in the ARCA driver standings after the Charlotte event.
