Another Female Driver Subjected To Online Hatred Stands Tall As NASCAR Fans Show True Colours

NASCAR’s thunderous roar has long echoed as a symbol of American motorsport’s grit, yet its driver roster remains a stark reflection of tradition: male-dominated, with women battling not just competitors but systemic barriers. “The car doesn’t know gender,” asserted rising star Toni Breidinger, but the sport’s ecosystem often does.

From Richard Petty’s infamous 2006 dismissal of female drivers to today’s incremental progress, women like Danica Patrick and Natalie Decker have carved paths only to face scrutiny over talent, appearance, and legitimacy. The message for female drivers is clear: respect isn’t handed out easily; you earn it, lap after lap. Yet, despite their grit, female drivers still face a harsher spotlight, where criticism often strays beyond performance.

Recently, one rising star found herself at the center of another familiar storm. But this time, the story took a surprising turn and revealed something truly inspiring about NASCAR’s evolving fan base.

Amber Balcaen isn’t new to breaking barriers. The Canadian driver made history in 2016 as the first Canadian woman to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the U.S. Her rise came through pure grit, clawing her way up from dirt tracks in Manitoba to competitive starts in the ARCA Menards Series, often without the financial backing many others enjoy. Balcaen’s big breakthrough came in the ARCA series with Rette Jones Racing, where she proved she belonged. Despite missing races because of funding, she delivered consistent performances, highlighted by a top-10 finish at Daytona in 2022.

Fast forward to 2025, Balcaen returned once again with confidence, showing marked improvement with Nitro Motorsports. Her early season includes a P12 at Daytona, a gritty top-15 finish at Kansas despite mid-race damage, and a 16th-place finish at ‘Dega. It’s clear that she’s racing smarter and harder and making the most of every chance behind the wheel. Yet, her recent post wasn’t about lap times. Instead, it was about something more personal.

“Doesn’t matter how feminine or not you portray yourself to be,” she wrote, calling out the online abuse women in motorsports continue to face. The reason? She once again faced hate and trolling comments for her driving skills as well as her looks after the Talladega race. “If you’re a woman in this sport, you will be scrutinized. For not just your ability but for the way you look,” she explained. Her message wasn’t just about her. Rather, it was about every woman trying to be her authentic self while performing under immense pressure. Her tweet quickly resonated beyond the usual social media noise.

Finished 16th. Went a lap down after getting a flat tire, then got back up to 12th. Unfortunately the guy in front of us had transmission issues which took us out of contention. Huge thanks to my @racewithnitro guys for all their hard work and bringing me a fast car. We overcame…

— Amber Balcaen (@amberbalcaen10) April 27, 2025

What happened next was unexpected and incredibly powerful. As the trolls piled on, the NASCAR community responded in a different tone. From fellow drivers to fans in the stands, the replies weren’t just supportive, they were a clear signal of change.

Fans rally behind Amber as NASCAR’s culture slowly shifts

While Amber Balcaen’s tweet highlighted the ugliness many women in motorsports face, the overwhelming wave of support that followed was loud, clear, and refreshingly positive. One fan nailed the sentiment, writing: “Being this freaking genuine as a person off the track is tough, and I absolutely commend you for that.” Balcaen’s openness has long been one of her trademarks—she’s frequently spoken about her journey. “They see a girl in a fire suit. They have no idea she had to show proof of awards, wins and championships just to get a immigration visa to compete in the USA. They didn’t see the millions of dollars she had to raise just to compete in the sport. And they don’t feel the sacrifices of living 24 hours away from family and friends just to have a chance at making others believe in their dreams too,” she wrote on Instagram.

Others reminded her of where her true validation lies. “Amber, just remember YOU are the driver and part of a hard-working team,” one user commented, underlining the bond between Balcaen and Nitro Motorsports. The team, known for developing talent in ARCA, has praised her leadership and resilience behind the wheel, especially during adversity-filled races like Talladega.

Another fan expressed excitement over NASCAR’s evolving gender balance: “I love that more women are getting opportunities, particularly yourself and Isabella Robusto.” Isabella Robusto, a rising star in ARCA, has made history with multiple milestones: she became the first female to win a Legend Car national qualifier (2018), secured a pole at Kansas (2024), and achieved the best Talladega finish by a female driver (3rd in 2025). A Toyota development driver, she aims to become ARCA’s first female champion while pursuing aerospace engineering.

Some, however, used the moment to call out the sport’s lingering issues. “NASCAR’s biggest obstacle is the deadweight of fans stuck in 1928,” one fan bluntly wrote. It’s a frustration many share—despite NASCAR’s push for inclusion and diversity through initiatives like Drive for Diversity, outdated attitudes from parts of the fanbase, new and old, remain a barrier.

But perhaps the most poignant show of support came from someone who simply applauded Balcaen’s skill: “You really did a great job at Dega. That incident was not your fault.” During the final restart, Balcaen was caught in a chain-reaction stack-up after a transmission issue in Steve Lewis Jr.’s car ahead. This time it was no fault of hers. But, still haters compared it to her Daytona incidents, which involved a tire rub causing a multi-car crash (Lap 19), collecting Cleetus McFarland and others, and a later restart wreck where she spun after a tire failure. However, it should be noted that even these two incidents were caused by mechanical failures.

Together, these voices are part of a much-needed cultural shift. The haters may still exist, but they’re slowly being drowned out by fans who value talent, authenticity, and progress.

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