03/21/2025
End of an Era: Team Pink’s Amber L’Heureux Steps Away from Chuckwagon Racing.
Amber L’Heureux made history and changed the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) forever when she became the first female driver the association had ever seen.
She arrived in 2019 and quickly became known as Team Pink. She also quickly became one of the most popular drivers on the circuit.
For many years, I had the pleasure of watching L’Heureux race from the front stage at the CPCA Finals in Lloydminster. You didn’t have to be watching, though, to know when she had made a good turn and was flying out of the barrels—the crowd’s roar would let you know. There’s always excitement, but with Amber, it was different. The crowd wasn’t just cheering; they were willing her to win, wanting her to know they were on her side. It’s natural that, as the only female in a male-dominated sport, she would think she had to prove herself. But it felt like the crowd was trying to tell her she didn’t have to prove anything to them.
We would toss items from the drivers into the crowd at that event, and Team Pink merchandise was always the most popular—popular with both young boys and girls.
L’Heureux has made the tough decision to step away from the sport she grew up loving. She announced her decision in a social media post, saying, “I’ve been thinking for the last month since I made my decision on how to put this into words and keep it short and sweet when there are a hundred reasons why. The short of the story is that my heart is just not in it anymore. The sport I grew up in is no longer the same.”
She watched her dad and grandfather compete for years but also cheered on her mom in the pony chuckwagon circuit. Getting in the big wagon, though, was special and created a buzz in the industry. But now, that buzz is no longer there for Amber. “The last few years, I’ve come to find I’ve found more enjoyment at home with the boys, watching them be horses,” she said. She added that health concerns played a part as well. “I started to evaluate my health pretty seriously after my concussion last season and, in turn, brain damage mixed with my MS.”
The CPCA season may seem short for fans who wait months for the sport to pick up again, but when you’re away from home, you can bet it feels a lot longer. “I started to think of all the major moments I’ve missed out on in the lives of the people around me due to racing,” her post stated.
As she steps away, fans are left wondering about all the moments they will miss out on this summer and what could have been.
Last July, I had the opportunity to sit down with Amber and discuss her career and her goals. She beamed as she talked about someday making it to the Calgary Stampede and how it would feel to race in front of thousands of fans at the Rangeland Derby. At that time, she was preparing to race in the North American Chuckwagon Championship in Lloydminster but made it clear she grew up knowing and understanding the history and importance of the Rangeland Derby. Now, I’m wondering if the historic Calgary Stampede failed to understand the importance of having a female driver in the sport—and the opportunity that was missed.
Wouldn’t it have been great to see Team Pink in front of all those fans, especially all those little girls? I’m not qualified to say she should have been one of the competitors, but what about a demo driver? What a missed opportunity—and not the first mistake Calgary has made, but quite possibly a costly one. At this time, new chuckwagon drivers aren’t exactly growing on trees.
Everyone in the sport will tell you that Calgary can make or break careers, and with decisions that aren’t based on points and standings, you’re always left to wonder about the choices. Amber made it clear to everyone listening that she needed to improve and stay safe. She was clearly doing that from the fans’ point of view, and that’s what really matters.
Amber has always maintained that she wants to inspire young women to be the best they can be at whatever they choose—not necessarily a chuckwagon driver, but anything at all. Mission accomplished. But Team Pink, along with the roar and buzz she created, will be missed by fans.
