After a strong performance at last weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR driver Amber Balcaen has publicly spoken out against the sexism and online abuse she regularly faces. Balcaen expressed her thoughts through a heartfelt and powerful message on social media.
In the male-dominated world of NASCAR, female drivers like Balcaen are no strangers to internet trolls and negative comments. After finishing 16th in the ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega, Balcaen addressed the misogynistic comments ranging from criticisms of her driving to objectifying remarks about her appearance.
With her bold message, Balcaen made it clear she’s not backing down and she is ready to take a stand for herself and other women in motorsports.
Amber Balcaen Rallies for All Women Racecar Drivers
Balcaen made history in 2016 by becoming the first Canadian woman to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States, taking the checkered flag in the Whelen All-American Series. Since then, she has steadily made a name for herself in racing, competing in the ARCA Menards Series.
Balcaen used her platform to call out the abuse and advocate for women in motorsports. In a post on X, she wrote, “Took less than one minute of scrolling through this weekends’ comments to realize it doesn’t matter how feminine or not you portray yourself to be, if you’re a woman in this sport you will be scrutinized. For not just your ability but for the way you look.”
She added, “One thing I know Forsure – we are all just trying to be authentic to who we are as humans WHILE being the best racecar drivers we can be. Every woman I know in this sport work their butts off to be here. And I’m proud of every single one of them.”
Despite the online abuse and trolling she faced, Balcaen remained steadfast in her love for the sport. “Anyways… still love this sport and its passionate fans – super appreciative to be here,” she expressed.
In light of her emotional message, the fans’ response has been mixed. While many fans, especially NASCAR insiders, applauded her courage and rallied behind her, others downplayed the issue.
Whatever the outcome, Balcaen’s message struck a chord and reignited conversations around gender equality in racing, a sport still primarily dominated by men. As more women like Balcaen and fellow racecar driver Isabella Robusto take to the track and make a name for themselves, the landscape of NASCAR will hopefully change for the better.