MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Rette Jones Racing officials announced Monday that driver Amber Balcaen has joined the organization for the full ARCA Menards Series season beginning with the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 19.
Canadian-based ICON Direct will continue its support of the 29-year-old Balcaen and join her at Rette Jones Racing for the 20-race schedule from February through October.
Balcaen, a Canadian native, is a third-generation race car driver who made history in 2016 when she became the first Canadian female to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States.
The Winnipeg native’s new endeavor at Rette Jones Racing will also be supported by Glenn McLeod and Sons, cementing a full Canadian roster of partners for her rookie season in the ARCA Menards Series.
“It is really special for me as a Canadian competing in the United States to be representing all Canadian companies on my car with Rette Jones Racing,” Balcaen said. “To have the hometown support is amazing. I couldn’t do this without them.”
ICON Direct, located in Manitoba, Canada, is a manufacturer of high-quality plastic component parts for the RV industry. ICON aftermarket replacement parts are available through RV dealers and distributors across North America and directly through their website.
“We are excited to be a returning sponsor of Amber Balcaen in NASCAR’s ARCA Menards Series,” added John Loewen, CEO of ICON Technologies Limited. “I resonate with Amber’s underdog story. She has a really bright future as a professional race car driver and is a great brand ambassador for ICON.”
Balcaen expands her ARCA Menards Series footprint after competing in a limited ARCA Menards Series West schedule last season upon her participation in Bill McAnally Racing’s Drivers Academy, a driver development program. She earned a career-best 11th place finish at California’s Irwindale Speedway in August.
This season, with the leadership of former ARCA championship crew chief and co-owner Mark Rette, Balcaen has huge ambitions to not only continue the team’s winning ways in 2022, but captivate the series with her determination to contend for the championship.
“Racing in NASCAR’s national ARCA Menards Series has always been my dream,” she said. “To compete at historic tracks like Daytona and Talladega is something I have visualized for years. I have dedicated the last eight years, working hard to make this dream become reality, and I cannot be more excited to live it.”