MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Rette Jones Racing (RJR) announced today that driver Amber Balcaen has joined the organization to campaign a full-season ARCA Menards Series championship effort beginning with the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona International 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 (IconDirect.com).
“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 successful and impressive 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.”
Rette is looking forward to having another female competitor under the Rette Jones Racing umbrella. From 2016-20, Canadian Dominique Van Wieringen piloted a Rette Jones Racing entry in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, including a full East season in 2016.
“Everyone at Rette Jones Racing is excited about the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season,” Rette said. “As a company, we are thrilled to return to the premier ARCA Menards Series on a full-time basis, and we look forward to the opportunity to strengthen Amber’s craft as a driver in a series that has always provided a lot of diversity.
“Our goals for the season are obtainable, and we look forward to producing the results we know that we are capable of and giving Amber a shot at the ARCA Menards Series championship.”
Longtime RJR partners Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks will continue their relationships with the team in 2022 and serve as associate partners on Balcaen’s No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.
Balcaen will make her Rette Jones Racing debut by participating in the ARCA Menards Series’ annual pre-race practice at Daytona on Jan. 14-15.
RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.
Additional details on Rette Jones Racing’s 2022 season, including an announcement for development driver and ARCA Menards Series East race winner Max Gutiérrez, is forthcoming.
For more on Balcaen, visit amberbalcaenracing.com, like her on Facebook (AmberBalcaenRacing) and follow her on Instagram (@amberbalcaen10) and Twitter (@amberbalcaen10).
For more on Rette Jones Racing, visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@RetteJones30).
Super excited to announce that for 2022 I will be racing full time in the national @ARCA_Racing series for @RetteJones30 with @IconDirect retuning as my primary sponsor! pic.twitter.com/hNoe6sTwNL
— Amber Balcaen (@amberbalcaen10) January 3, 2022