(Photo Credit: Edwin Locke | UPI)
In March 1987, the United States Congress passed legislation designating Women’s History Month. This yearly event aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women throughout history and their impact on modern society.
Over the years, NASCAR has had its fair share of trailblazers, from Sara Christian, the first female driver in NASCAR history, to Janet Guthrie, who became the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.
Past Trailblazers Â
Every event of the ARCA Menards Series hosts a lineup of trailblazers, making history their history. Recently, the series has introduced us to Nascar Xfinity Series drivers Natalie Decker Lemke (Natalie Decker) and Hailie Deegan.
Natalie Decker
In 2017, it was announced that Decker would participate in three ARCA races for Venturini Motorsports. Later, Venturini signed Decker to drive in the entire 2018 ARCA schedule. She finished the season in seventh place in the point standings.
In the following years, she competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and finished fifth at Daytona International Speedway. This achievement made her the highest-finishing female driver in the history of the Truck Series.
On September 29, 2019, Decker disclosed that she has been battling rheumatoid arthritis since she was two years old. Despite her condition, she continues to participate actively in track competitions. However, she requires regular treatment for her condition to manage its symptoms.
Haillie Deegan
Deegan has become a fan favorite as she worked her way up the ladder. She started racing for Venturini in 2019. Deegan finished third in the point standings and claimed the Rookie of the Year series award. In 2021, she earned her first Truck Series career top ten and became the first woman in series history to score such a finish outside a superspeedway. She was a weekly regular in the Superstar Racing Experience.
Current ARCA Menards Trail Blazers
Toni Breidinger
Toni Breidinger has recently become a full-time driver for Venturini Motorsports. She is the first female driver of Arab-American descent to compete in any NASCAR national series. Breidinger has established herself as a prominent figure in motorsports by winning 19 races in the United States Automobile Club (USAC). With over five million followers on social media, she is one of the most popular NASCAR drivers on these platforms.
Mandy Chick
Mandy Chick, a young driver from DeSoto, Kansas, comes from a family with a deep racing heritage, following in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. In July 2023, she debuted in the ARCA Menards Series at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway. A month later, Chick was one of six female drivers who raced at the Milwaukee Mile, marking a historic moment for the sport.
Additionally, Chick is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering with two minors in Economics and Entrepreneurial Studies at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Amber Balcaen
Hailing from Canada, Amber Balcaen is a trailblazer in the world of car racing. She is a professional stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series. Balcaen drives the No. 22 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. She is well-known for being the first Canadian woman to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States. Balcaen started racing at ten, driving go-karts on several dirt tracks around North Dakota. At sixteen, she bought her first lightning sprint car and became the first female driver in Manitoba to win a dirt track racing championship.
Balcaen is a co-host of the TV series “Cars of Rock” with AC/DC band member Brian Johnson. She is also a motivational speaker who is helping people worldwide achieve their goals in life. In 2019, she was a prominent cast member of the NASCAR reality show “Racing Wives” on CMT.
Logan Misuraca
Misuraca started her career in dancing at the young age of 18 months. She continued to dance and compete in several dance competitions, earning multiple awards and titles. In high school, she was a member of the Lake Mary Marionettes, a National Championship Dance Team. After graduating high school, she started working as a dance instructor and choreographer in her local area. Recently, Misuraca created 1inaMillion Lives, an initiative to support mental health awareness, in preparation for the 2023 ARCA Menards season. As part of this initiative, fans can purchase “blocks” for $1, and their pictures will be included in her 2023 paint scheme. A part of the proceeds from these purchases will go to mental health charities.
The Drive for Diversity program started in 2004 to train and develop drivers from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Many of the women mentioned above were a part of this program. This year, the program features two more impressive females, Lanie Bruce and Regina Sirvent. Young girls now aspire to become NASCAR racers and follow in the footsteps of the heroes who have set the path and those who are rewriting History.
