For NASCAR driver Amber Balcaen, racing professionally was always the dream. Even while sitting in the classroom at Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where she spent two years studying for a business degree, the athlete envisioned herself competing on the track against the top dogs in the sport. She intended to continue her studies at a four-year university, but the urge to pursue a career in stock car racing was too much to ignore.
You might think that competing in a male-centered sport would ignite feelings of intimidation and fear for the then 20-something-year-old aspiring female driver. However, others’ mentality that Balcaen was the underdog in the industry only fed her drive to win.
“I’ve learned that when you’re doing something different, criticism comes with the territory,” the racing champ revealed in an interview. “Being a woman in a male-dominated sport meant I was underestimated constantly, but I used that as fuel.”
Balcaen explained that creating a “mental toughness” by staying focused on what she could control (preparation, mindset, and grit) kept her moving forward amid the outside chatter from skeptics who doubted she could excel behind the wheel. She also relies heavily on personal development techniques, such as journaling, reading, meditation, and visualization to shed the negativity. Although she admits that the harsh criticism is motivation in itself to prove them wrong.
She did just that throughout her astonishing career spanning over a decade-long (and counting), becoming a decorated racer, which includes making history as the first Canadian female to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the U.S. Balcaen has also become one of motorsport’s most prominent female influencers, amassing over 136k Instagram followers and repeatedly selling out merchandise on her website.
Gearing Up for the Track
How she prepares for each race has much to do with her success, and her routine has evolved quite a bit since her early racing days (like when she was a pre-teen racing go-karts, admiring her father, 50-time Track Champion Mike Balcaen, or her grandfather, hall of fame legend Lou Kennedy Sr’s skills on the track). These days, Balcaen follows her own formula: MIND x BODY x CRAFT x CONNECTION x ENERGY = WINNING, which she explained means “training my mind with visualization and journaling, keeping my body strong with driver-specific workouts, studying data and footage to master the craft, and keeping my energy and relationships aligned. It’s not just about being fast — it’s about being sharp, clear, and present,” she added.
It also helps that her style differs from that of her competitors, taking the approach of being “patiently aggressive” and constantly trying to strike that balance. But aside from her illustrious family tree in the motorsport world, Balcaen is no stranger to the racetrack. She has a background in dirt racing, which she said plays a considerable role in shaping her as a well-rounded driver, teaching her control, how to read the track, and how to adapt quickly when conditions change.
What’s helped Balcaen get ahead ties to her aforementioned motivation and ambition to consistently show up, as well as her “relentless work ethic and willingness to evolve,” she said. “I’ll outwork and out-study anyone. I actively seek feedback, stay open to learning, and focus on improving my weaknesses rather than ignoring them,” Balcaen stressed. She also recognizes that although there’s only one person in the driver’s seat, racing is a team sport, which has pushed her to build strong relationships combined with mental resilience, two aspects she’s called her “biggest strengths” and that have enabled her to grow in the industry.
It’s All or Nothing
However, Balcaen didn’t always have the can-do attitude she has today. She previously shared in an interview that it took a long time before she experienced the “ah-ha moment” that being on the racetrack was her purpose. She elaborated on this, saying she didn’t think a career as a female racecar driver was possible because no one had done it before.
“I came from humble beginnings in Winnipeg, Manitoba,” Balcaen shared. “I didn’t have the money or the connections. But in college, something clicked. I realized if I didn’t at least try, I’d regret it forever. I’d rather fail going after my dream than succeed at something that wasn’t truly mine.”
The many little girls who look up to Balcaen as a role model are glad she followed that instinct, and it was a bold move considering she didn’t have a Plan B. She explained she didn’t allow herself a backup plan because she was that committed to making it in the sport, although she did imagine other avenues she could’ve pursued if things didn’t work out. “I think I would’ve built something around inspiring people — whether through media, personal development, or coaching. Now, I get to blend all of that with racing, which is really powerful,” Balcaen said.
The Future Is Bright
The Canadian native always has her eyes on the future and is building for the long term. While she doesn’t plan on retiring from racing anytime soon, Balcaen aims to use her platform to uplift others, especially young women chasing unconventional paths as she did. Upon stepping away from racing, she’s considering roles in media, mentorship, or business, areas in which she has already tackled exceptionally.
But before that, Balcaen has other goals to accomplish, such as becoming the first female to win a national ARCA Menards Series race, which is part of the broader NASCAR umbrella. “That fire still burns strong, and I know I have what it takes. I just need the opportunity and the right backing to show it,” she assured.
Off the track, her focus lies on expanding her impact, which includes her recently launched podcast DRIVEN — “a show for the underdogs, the dreamers, and the high performers who refuse to quit,” Balcaen said about her new venture in a social media post. She’s also building a mindset coaching platform and growing her work as a speaker and content creator. “It all ties back to helping others overcome adversity and go after their own version of success — just like I’ve had to do,” Balcaen shared.
Reflecting on Her Why
Balcean never forgets the hardships she endured to become the racer she is today, especially when reflecting on her journey. The President of Amber Balcaen Racing Inc. confessed that there were many times when she second-guessed the career path she chose, particularly when money was tight and the online scrutiny appeared to get louder.
“But I kept going because I knew my why,” Balcaen said. “It was never just about racing. It was about proving what’s possible when you bet on yourself. I’ve always trusted that the struggle was shaping me into the woman I’m meant to be.”
Balcaen holds onto that when dealing with the ongoing sexism she’s experienced as one of the few female NASCAR drivers, which she recently spoke out about in an emotional X post. She admitted although she tries to turn the other cheek to the cruel comments, she had reached a “breaking point.”
“I was tired of seeing other women go through it too,” Balcaen explained. “It felt good to finally get it off my chest. I couldn’t ignore it any longer, and honestly, pretending it doesn’t exist would be denying a big part of both who I am and how the world sees me. Being one of the few women in this space comes with a responsibility, and I felt it was time to speak up—not out of anger, but out of truth.”
Looking Ahead
She hopes to see a change in the industry going forward, involving more inclusion across all areas, and she’s lending a hand to make that happen. “I want it to be a sport where talent, heart, and hustle matter more than anything else,” Balcaen said. “And I plan to be a part of that change by being vocal, showing up authentically, mentoring other drivers, and using my platform to elevate underrepresented voices.”
As for what’s next for Balcaen, she teased she’s “planted a lot of seeds” and encourages fans to follow her social media accounts closely to “see which one’s sprout.”