and began racing at Red River Co-op
Speedway.
Now after a year on the U.S. circuit,
she’s a champion.
“I knew I had only two races left at
Motor Mile this season to put myself
in victory lane,” Balcaen explained. “I
came so close to winning my previous
race, so to finally get that just felt
amazing.”
Although it sounds like she’s simply
followed in her father’s footsteps,
nothing could be further from the
truth. Mike helped, but she was never
babied, never led through all the hoops
by daddy’s kid gloves. Amber Balcaen
earned her success.
Tweet... “I had to overcome a lot
of obstacles, being a Canadian in an
American-dominated sport, a
female in a male-dominated
sport and someone who
has no financial backing
whatsoever in a very wealthy
man’s sport,” she explained.
“I just wanted it so bad that
I wasn’t going to let those
excuses overtake my passion
and determination to make my dreams
a reality.”
There is no limit to where she can
take her skills. Still, when you meet
here, Amber is still just a young woman
from Winnipeg.
“Racing is my life,” she said, during
an interview way back in 2010. “There
is nothing I enjoy more than being at
the race track with my parents. I’ve
been going to the race track with my
family since I was a baby and have
rarely missed my dad’s races. Having
a very successful race car driver as
a dad definitely has it pluses. I have
learned so much from him: From the
business side of racing like getting
sponsors, to the technical side, such
sportslife / 25