ARCA: Amber Balcaen ruled last following qualifying spin, undiagnosed mechanical issue
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Although Brad Smith actually took the green flag before immediately pulling behind the wall on the opening lap, Racing-Reference.info lists both Balcaen and Smith as out of the race after zero laps with “mechanical” as the reason out. While it appears Balcaen should have been considered a “Did Not Start,” because of this ruling from an official NASCAR-owned website, and for consistency reasons with prior races this season, Balcaen will receive credit for this weekend’s last-place finish for the time being.
Amber Balcaen finished last for the 2nd time in her ARCA Menards Series career in Friday’s General Tire 100 at Watkins Glen International when her No. 22 ICON Direct Toyota failed to fire on the grid following a spin in qualifying.
The finish came in Balcaen’s 40th career ARCA Menards Series start.
Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, Balcean’s NASCAR career began in 2016 at the Whelen All-American Series level. That season, she made history as the first female Canadian driver to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race, taking victory at Motor Mile in Radford, Virginia. The next year, she made her debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, finishing 20th in the season-opener at New Smyrna Speedway driving for Martin-McClure Racing.
After spending a couple of seasons competing in late models for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Balcaen competed in the POWRi Midget Racing Series in 2020 before severe injuries sustained in a frightening crash in Missouri derailed the rest of her season. In 2021, she returned to the East/West Series level, now fully under the ARCA banner, competing in three ARCA West races for Bill McAnally while also taking part in McAnally’s BMR Drivers Academy. The following season, she joined Rette Jones Racing for a full season in the national ARCA Menards Series, finishing seventh in the point standings with a season-best of seventh-place at Charlotte. Her lone last-place finish came at Bristol, where crash damage sidelined her after 11 laps.
After running just three races with Venturini Motorsports in 2023, the Toyota team signed Balcaen to a full-time deal in 2024. After starting the year with two top-tens in the first three races, her season took a hit at Dover when she sustained a foot injury in a hard crash late in the event. Despite the injury, she was able to continue with her full-time schedule, with her season being highlighted by an eighth-place finish at Springfield in which all four female drivers for Venturini finished in the top ten.
At the Glen, however, Balcaen found herself unable to complete a single lap. After a spin in qualifying left her 28th of 29 cars on the starting grid, her car would not fire, leaving her stranded in the pits as the field began to pull away on the pace laps. In an interview on the FS1 broadcast, she explained that the team initially thought it was a transmission issue, but was ultimately unable to diagnose the root of the problem, leaving her unable to take the green flag.
Following Balcaen up the results sheet was Brad Smith, who pulled into the pits following the opening lap due to overheating concerns. Next to retire from the race were Brayton Laster and Tim Richmond, who both completed eight laps before brake and overheating issues respectively forced them behind the wall. Rob Pellosie rounded out the Bottom Five by completing nine laps - according to The Third Turn, “no tires” was the listed reason for his DNF.
At the front of the field, Connor Zilisch picked up yet another win for Pinnacle Racing Group, though his ARCA victory was a mere footnote compared to his impressive win in the Xfinity Series race the following day. Zilisch enters the upcoming race at Bristol as the ARCA East title favorite over William Sawalich, who finished second on Friday at the Glen ahead of Xfinity Series regular Brandon Jones in third.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
29) #22-Amber Balcaen / 0 laps / mechanical
28) #48-Brad Smith / 0 laps / mechanical
27) #12-Brayton Laster / 8 laps / mechanical
26) #27-Tim Richmond / 8 laps / mechanical
25) #31-Rob Pellosie / 9 laps / mechanical
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 17 of 20)
1st) Clubb Racing Inc. (5)
2nd) Fast Track Racing, Brad Smith Motorsports (3)
3rd) Peterson Motorsports (2)
4th) Kennealy Keller Motorsports, Rise Motorsports, Shearer Speed Racing, Venturini Motorsports (1)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 17 of 20)
1st) Ford (10)
2nd) Toyota (4)
3rd) Chevrolet (3)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE throughout the 2024 ARCA season to view the full drivers’ standings for both the ARCA Menards Series and its East and West divisions. You can also find the manufacturers’ and owners’ standings for all three series HERE.
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 17 of 20)
