Winnipegger Amber Balcaen has made racing history

I Just became the 1st Canadian Woman to win a @NASCAR race in the USA!!!!! Ahhhhh🏆🏁😄🇨🇦 @NASCARHomeTrack #makinghistory #grateful

— Amber Balcaen (@amberbalcaen10) August 28, 2016

Balcaen crossed the line first as the checkered flag dropped in the Motor Mile Speedway’s Limited Sportsman division at Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia, making her the first Canadian-born female racer to win a NASCAR sanctioned event in the US. This win bumps her to third place in the division with 162 points, just 46 point behind division leader Scott Lancaster.

“I’ve wanted this win so bad, and I knew that I needed it to be able to make the next step in my career,” explained Balcaen. “I gave up everything back home to come here to try and be a NASCAR driver. Not having the financial backing, being female and Canadian… to be able to put the pieces together and have an awesome crew and to get the sponsorship I needed to come here— it really is a dream come true,” said Balcaen.

A third generation racer, after her father and grandfather, she made the jump from dirt tracks to pavement this season. Winning a NASCAR event is truly a milestone event for the young racer.

“I’m going to be smiling all week,” Balcaen exclaimed. “I’ve dreamed of this all season. Last [race], I thought it was going to happen. But sometimes you have to lose before you can win.”

-News4 Winnipeg-