The Canadian Amber Balcaen driver may not have run in Daytona 500, but she has always felt the energy of President Donald Trump when he arrived in Daytona International Speedway.
“I am Canadian, but I have never experienced anything like it. You could feel energy and even talk about it, it gives me chills. It was really treated,” said Balcaen during a recent appearance on “Outkick The Morning with Charly Arnolt” from Outkick.
“I ran the day before, so I couldn’t hear it on the radio, but I listened, and I can’t even imagine what the pilots had to feel at that time.”
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President Donald Trump salutes the drivers of the Nascar Daytona 500 Auto Race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Pool via AP)
Balcaen, 32, ran in the Acra Menards series the day before the Daytona 500, which Gus Dean won.
Balcaen said that Trump’s presence added even more to what is already a great atmosphere.
“The Daytona 500 is known as the big American race. It is Nascar’s Super Bowl. So having Donald Trump, or the President of the United States there, I mean that the energy is already absolutely electric that day in Daytona. But to have the president, he just added another level.”
Nascar star William Byron visits Trump to Daytona 500
The pilot of the Arca series, Amber Balcaen, during training for the Ride The ‘Dente 200 in Daytona International Speedway. (Images of Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn)
Trump became the first president to attend the Daytona 500 twice when he visited the racetrack earlier this month.
After talking with certain pilots on the lane of the stands, he went up in presidential limousine, “The Beast” because it took a tour before the green flag flies.
William Byron won Daytona 500 for the second time in his career and spoke to PK Press Club Digital earlier this month of what it meant to have Trump present.
The pilot of the Arca series, Amber Balcaen, during training for the Ride The ‘Dente 200 in Daytona International Speedway. (Images of Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn)
“It was quite neat,” said Byron. “I think that every time you can have a president seated, come and see your sporting event, it’s very special. And for him to take the time to do it was really cool. Just to be able to see the procession crossing the track and just the different things he did when he was pretty cool.
“Brought a lot of energy and excitement to the race before it begins.”
