Toni Breidinger isn’t just gearing up for her next race—she’s preparing to carry the weight of an entire industry’s expectations starting in 2025.
Recently, TRICON Garage announced that the 25-year-old will take on a full-time role in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, stepping into a position that demands she trailblaze in multiple arenas.
And those shoulders? They’re no strangers to the spotlight. Soon, they’ll be showcased in Sports Illustrated’s 2025 swimsuit issue, a groundbreaking moment as the first NASCAR driver to be featured.
It’s just one milestone in a career packed with achievements that most can only dream of.
Breidinger has balanced her time on the track with a thriving modeling career, appearing in campaigns for high-profile brands like GAP and Victoria’s Secret, and being represented by IMG Models, one of the top agencies in the industry.
With over five million followers across Instagram and TikTok, she’s also a social media powerhouse. But Breidinger is more than an influencer—she’s a bona fide racer.
“It’s kind of funny because everyone says, ‘You have to pick one: race car driver or model.
You can’t do both,’” she says. But she’s proving them wrong. “They work perfectly for me.
I leverage my modeling to help me get behind the wheel, and they go hand in hand. I feel like I balance them well.”
Her journey began on the go-kart tracks of Sonoma Raceway, where she and her twin sister, Annie, got their first taste of competition.
While Annie now works in STEM, Toni has amassed 19 USAC victories and made history in the ARCA Menards Series, finishing fourth in the championship standings this year—the highest ever for a female driver.
She’s also a graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, backed by sponsors like Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS, and Sunoco, and supported by Toyota Racing Development.
“Some of my partners are involved in NASCAR and sponsor other drivers, while others didn’t know much about NASCAR until I brought them in,” she explains.
“It’s exciting to work with brands that not only believe in me but also support female athletes. It’s very empowering.”
Breidinger isn’t just coasting on sponsorships.
Her NASCAR debut in 2023 at Kansas saw her make history as the highest-placing female debut driver in the Truck Series with a strong 15th-place finish—a performance that solidified her deal with TRICON.
“They got to know my work ethic and how much I want this,” she says. In NASCAR, relationships are everything.
“The more you can build connections and relationships, the better off you are.”
Now, she faces the challenge of balancing a full-time racing schedule with her thriving modeling career and social media presence.
While it sounds chaotic, Breidinger relies on different mindsets for each aspect of her life: her “racer brain” for race days and another for everything else.
“I have to switch mindsets quickly, and I feel like I’m naturally able to do it for the most part,” she shares. “But it’s tricky. I try not to overthink it.”
Planning ahead is key. “If I stay present and embrace everything, I can balance it pretty well.”
As she steps into a space where female drivers have historically faced challenges, Breidinger is focused on her path.
Hailie Deegan had a stint with TRICON in 2021 and 2022, even earning a sixth-place finish at Talladega, but her NASCAR trajectory faltered.
Breidinger, however, is determined to build her own legacy. She’s already developing chemistry with her new crew and setting goals for the season ahead.
“They told me the most important things are to visit the shop, build relationships with the team, and maintain a positive mindset,” she says.
“Starting the season with those elements in place will set a solid foundation.”
Her focus is on preparation, team-building, and staying positive. “As long as I put in the work during the season and the offseason, I feel like I can deliver results. That’s where my attention is.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Breidinger isn’t just racing for wins—she’s racing for representation, for sponsors, for visibility, and to break barriers as she climbs toward Victory Lane, where no female NASCAR driver has yet stood as a winner.
“I’m very into journaling,” she reveals. “I write down my goals and dreams. It’s definitely something I think about and see in my future.”
Is Toni Breidinger the future of NASCAR? If you ask her, she’s already on her way.
