The ARCA Menards Series is viewed as a stepping stone for those attempting to “make it” in NASCAR. These eight women are not only making an impact in the various ARCA series, they are inspiring future generations of female racers.
Balcaen is one of the most experienced drivers in the ACRA Menards Series over the past few seasons, making 45 career starts since 2022.
Having raced full time in the national series twice in her four seasons of action, she is still surprised by the number of female competitors in ARCA.
“In my 23 years of racing, I’ve never seen so many women, so many female competitors that I race against,” Balcaen said. “When I raced dirt, I was always the only girl, and now, to be 23 years into it, seeing how many more females are part of it is amazing.”
Growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Balcaen started racing dirt karts in Canada and the northern United States. Even though she grew up in a racing family, Balcaen had to forge her own path.
“My family never gave me any financial backing; I’ve raised every dollar in sponsorship by myself,” Balcaen noted.
“I bought my own go-kart when I was 10 and raised all my own sponsorship for all my dirt racing and pavement racing.”
After continuing her path into dirt sprint cars, Balcaen transitioned to asphalt via the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, where she immediately took to winning on asphalt. She debuted in what is now the ARCA Menards Series East and West in 2017 and 2021, before racing full time in the national ARCA Series in 2022.
Though she is racing part time this season, Balcaen hopes to return to full-time competition.
“I feel like I haven’t really got to show what I’m capable of,” Balcaen said. “I think, given the right team, the right sponsors, the right people behind me, and now that I have some experience underneath me, I think I could do a lot more.”
Buice made her ARCA Menards Series debut this season and is also competing in the Late Model Stock division of the CARS Tour. The 18-year-old native of Jackson, Georgia, is well-versed in the world of Late Model racing, finishing second in the 2023 Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Series at Florence Motor Speedway with 14 top-10 finishes.
Piloting Rev Racing’s No. 2 entry in three ARCA Menards Series starts this season, Buice had earned two top-10 finishes. Oddly enough, for the short-track racer, these results came on intermediate tracks, with a 10th-place finish at Kansas Speedway and a career-best eighth-place showing in her series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
At 45, Legge is one of the most experienced drivers to enter an ARCA Menards Series race this season. Though she has made NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in the past, the former IMSA winner and open-wheel racer shockingly switched her focus to stock car racing earlier this season.
Legge made just one start in the ARCA Menards Series this year, finishing 39th after running only three laps at Daytona International Speedway. Nonetheless, this start was part of a larger season in NASCAR for Legge. She ultimately made her Cup Series debut at Phoenix and, as of press time, had scored a career-best finish of 17th in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.
Driving for Venturini Motorsports, Avedisian made her ARCA Menards Series debut on the DuQuoin dirt in August.
For the 18-year-old, this race was a long time coming. She made a name for herself racing on dirt, winning the 2023 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series championship, before transitioning to Late Model competition on pavement.
“My dad used to work on dirt sprint cars when he was growing up, and when I was born, I was just introduced very young through him going to the race track and watching him work in the dirt racing,” Avedisian explained.
Her first car, a Quarter Midget, was given to her at age 4. “I just didn’t really like it,” she recalled.
After a few years, Avedisian fell in love with the sport and began racing at age 10.
While she made her name in the dirt world, Avedisian broke into the national spotlight earlier this season. She became the first woman to win in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model division.
Avedisian will undoubtedly be watched closely in ARCA, though she doesn’t put too much pressure on herself as a woman in racing.
“Obviously, it’s really cool for me, for the sport, to have another female in it (ARCA), but, truthfully, I don’t put too much thought into it, and I just want to win and go do the best I can,” Avedisian said.
At 16 years old, Davis is another newcomer who made her ARCA Menards Series debut during the 2025 season. Having raced Quarter Midgets since she was 5 years old, Davis is moving up the ranks at lightning speed, adding Bandoleros and Pro Late Models to her racing resume.
Her season kicked off in the ARCA Menards Series East, finishing an impressive ninth at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Davis then made her debut in the national ARCA Series at Elko Speedway in June, bringing Rise Motorsports’ No. 31 entry home 11th after starting 17th.
In her other starts at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and Iowa Speedway, Davis also improved on her starting positions, though she failed to improve on her debut finish.
Growing up, Robusto worked her way through several types of racing, including go-karts, Bandoleros, Legend Cars and Late Model Stock Cars. Her path to ARCA began when she joined Toyota’s driver development program at age 16.
Following this move, Robusto had the chance to race in other disciplines while focusing on Late Model competition, eventually splitting seat time between the ARCA Menards Series and the CARS Tour Late Model Stock division.
Making her ARCA debut at Phoenix, Robusto took to the series quickly, scoring top-five finishes in two of her first three starts. During the 2024 season finale at Kansas Speedway, Robusto was the talk of the town, posting a 174.78 mph pole lap.
Though she wrecked after just one lap, Robusto says winning the pole at Kansas was a great introduction to her competitors.
“I feel like it definitely helped show everyone that I belong, and I’m not there just because I’m a girl,” Robusto said. “I’m there because I can compete for the race win week in and week out.”
This season, racing full time with Venturini, Robusto has run toward the front of the pack in most races, including a stretch of three top-five finishes from Dover to Iowa during the summer.
Sirvent may be a new name in the ARCA Menards Series this season, but the 21-year-old is an experienced racer and a winner in the Truck Mexico Series. Sirvent has also competed in the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series, the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and was a member of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program.
The native of Mexico City made her ARCA Menards Series with Kimmel Racing, finishing 14th at Michigan International Speedway in June. At press time, she had made subsequent starts at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and Iowa Speedway.
In her most recent race at Iowa, she brought the No. 68 car home in 13th place.
Monopoli made her ARCA debut in 2024, but she is by no means new to motorsports. Like many competitors, the 36-year-old grew up in a racing family and has competed in the short-track ranks since she was 21. She is also an accomplished Pro Truck racer.
At press time, Monopoli had made five starts in the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season, including three in the No. 85 entry fielded by City Garage Motorsports. In race seven, Monopoli tied her career best finish of 11th at Berlin Raceway in Michigan.
Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.
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Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.
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