Toni Breidinger is set to make her full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2025, and excitement for the next chapter in her career is reaching a crescendo. Known for her dual identity as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and a social media star with over 5 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, Breidinger remains focused on proving herself in the fiercely competitive NASCAR circuit.
“Yeah, I definitely have been making the haters a little mad lately, that’s for sure,” Breidinger said to Newsweek and other journalists. “But I mean, all good stuff on my end. Everyone in my inner circle is really excited and happy. It’s kind of a new chapter for me. Obviously, it’s easier said than done to ignore the haters, but my team, Toyota, and all my partners are really excited. For me, that’s what counts at the end of the day. So I try not to put too much thought into comments online.”
At just 25 years old, Breidinger has already broken barriers as the first Arabic-American woman to compete in a national NASCAR series. Hailing from the Bay Area—an area not typically known for producing stock car drivers—she represents a fresh and unique demographic in NASCAR.
“Yeah, I mean, hopefully I can bring in a new demographic to watch the Truck Series and NASCAR,” Breidinger said. “I do feel like my fan base is very international, which is exciting, but I hope to cross over and get more people interested. Even just reading DMs and comments, I always see people saying, ‘Oh, I’m going to watch NASCAR now.’ So, I think taking my demographic and bringing it to NASCAR is exciting, and hopefully, I can gain some more fans too.”
Partnering with TRICON Garage, a well-established team in the Craftsman Truck Series, gives Breidinger the opportunity to develop her skills and compete at a high level.
“It’s not like I’m working harder, I’m just more stable and present and able to feel confident in myself,” she explained. “It’s a huge mental game, and I think I’m pretty good at keeping a calm head on my shoulders and everything.”
As a trailblazer, Breidinger inevitably draws comparisons to Danica Patrick, who opened doors for women in NASCAR but faced significant scrutiny throughout her career. While Patrick’s challenges are not Breidinger’s to inherit, such parallels are hard to avoid given the limited number of women in the sport. For Breidinger to fully gain acceptance on the track and among fans, success—and eventually, a win—will be critical.
With TRICON Garage providing a stable and successful foundation, Breidinger has the resources to rise to the challenge. “Success on the track can squelch hate derived from sexism,” and Breidinger is determined to leverage her ability and opportunity to silence the doubters.
Her presence in NASCAR is more than just a personal achievement; it’s an opportunity to expand the sport’s audience and inspire a new generation of fans and drivers. Whether on social media or at the racetrack, Toni Breidinger is poised to leave her mark on NASCAR in 2025 and beyond.
