Toni Breidinger is a trailblazer in American motorsports—the first Arab-American woman to compete in NASCAR, a record-setting USAC champion, and a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model who’s rewriting the playbook on what it means to be a racer in the 21st century.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in Hillsborough, California, Toni Breidinger didn’t exactly follow the typical path to NASCAR. Her father, a mechanical engineer with a lifelong passion for racing, decided his nine-year-old daughter needed a go-kart. Not a toy—a real one. He bought it, brought it to Sonoma Raceway, and watched her fall head over heels for speed.

“I knew early on that I wanted to become a race car driver,” she’s said, and she wasn’t kidding[5]. For the next five years, Breidinger and her family crisscrossed the country chasing go-kart races, with her dad serving as mechanic and crew chief. Her Lebanese heritage made her a rarity in the paddock, but she was too busy winning to worry about standing out. It wasn’t until her pre-teen years, watching a Late Model race at Madera Speedway, that she knew stock cars were her future[4].

Her parents were all-in from the start, supporting her unconventional dreams in a sport that didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for girls—let alone Arab-American ones. But Breidinger had that “sense of independence” she found behind the wheel, and she wasn’t letting go[1][2].

OTHER INTERESTS

Breidinger isn’t just fast on the track—she’s also become one of the most recognizable faces in motorsports, period. She’s modeled for Victoria’s Secret, Marie Claire Arabia, Glamour, Shape, GQ, and made history as the first NASCAR driver to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue[1]. It’s not a side hustle; it’s a statement. She’s leveraging her platform to advocate for representation in a sport that desperately needs it, using social media to reach audiences far beyond the racetrack.

She’s a frequent speaker at events focused on leadership, diversity, and breaking into male-dominated industries[1]. And while some old-school racing fans might raise an eyebrow at the modeling work, Breidinger doesn’t flinch. She’s proving you can be feminine, fashionable, and a serious competitor all at once—and that those things aren’t mutually exclusive.

Thanks to her partnership with Toyota, she also has access to state-of-the-art resources including fitness training, nutrition counseling, and medical support[4]. It’s the kind of infrastructure that keeps elite athletes sharp, and she’s using every bit of it.

EARLY SUCCESS

After five years in go-karts, Breidinger graduated to USAC Midgets and the Asphalt Midget Series—and promptly started rewriting the record books. She won the USAC Western US Asphalt Midget Series championship and racked up 19 USAC victories, the most by any woman in the organization’s history[1][5]. It wasn’t just a milestone; it was a demolition of what people thought women could achieve in open-wheel racing.

As a teenager, she won scholarships to try her hand at race cars, which opened doors to Late Models[5]. In 2019, she drove for GMS Racing, and in 2020, she finished fourth in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series with DLP Motorsports[2][5]. She applied for the W Series in 2019 and made it to the top 60, but wasn’t selected[2]. No matter—she had bigger plans.

Her big break came with Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series. After a part-time stint in 2018, she went full-time from 2021 to 2024, earning four top-fives and 27 top-tens across more than 60 starts—the most top-tens by a woman in ARCA history[1][2][4]. She finished sixth in the 2022 standings, proving she wasn’t just making appearances—she was competing[2].

Tyler Young of Young’s Motorsports, where she also competed in ARCA and the NASCAR Truck Series, put it plainly: “We know she can… contend to become the first ARCA… female winner”[5]. The win hasn’t come yet, but the potential is undeniable.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• USAC: Won USAC Western US Asphalt Midget Series championship[1].
• USAC: Set record with 19 career wins, the most by a woman in USAC history[1][5].
• 2020: Finished fourth in Carolina Pro Late Model Series with DLP Motorsports[2][5].
• 2021–2024: Competed full-time in ARCA Menards Series with Venturini Motorsports, earning four top-fives and a record 27 top-tens—the most by a woman in ARCA[1][2][4].
• 2022: Finished sixth in ARCA standings, her best season result[2].
• 2022: Made NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Kansas with Young’s Motorsports[2][3].
• 2024: Became the first NASCAR driver to appear in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue[1].
• 2025: Moved to Tricon Garage for full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition[1][2][4].

INSPIRATIONS

Breidinger has named Lewis Hamilton and Jimmie Johnson as two drivers she’d love to race against in a fantasy matchup, calling them “two absolute legends”[3]. It’s fitting—Hamilton’s barrier-breaking career in Formula 1 and Johnson’s dominance in NASCAR represent the kind of impact she’s aiming for herself.

Her biggest influence, though, was right at home. Her father’s passion for racing, his mechanical expertise, and his willingness to wrench on her kart every weekend laid the foundation for everything that followed[5]. He believed in her when the sport didn’t, and that made all the difference.

REPUTATION

Jalopnik called her “badass,” and it’s hard to argue[5]. Breidinger carries the torch lit by pioneers like Sara Christian and Janet Guthrie, but she’s doing it in her own way—with a social media following, a modeling career, and a refusal to fit neatly into anyone’s box[1][3].

Paul Doleshal of Toyota praised her ability to “reach beyond motorsports audiences,” recognizing that she’s not just a driver—she’s a brand[4]. Tyler Young described her as “motivated” and “determined,” traits that have kept her grinding through the tough early years of her NASCAR career[5].

Her mental game is rock-solid. After her Truck Series debut at Kansas in 2022, she described feeling “calm” despite the intensity, a sign of the mental preparation she brings to every race[3]. She’s also got the humility to redefine success on her own terms: “As long as I’m improving with each race, and my team is satisfied… that’s part of what success means”[4].

For young women globally—especially those of Arab descent—she’s become a symbol of what’s possible. She’s not just opening doors; she’s kicking them down.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Breidinger is in the thick of her first full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season with Tricon Garage, and it’s been a learning curve. Through the first 15 races of 2025, she’s sitting 22nd in the standings with a best finish of 18th at Rockingham and two top-20 results[2][3]. It’s not where she wants to be, but she’s playing the long game.

Her ultimate goal? The NASCAR Cup Series[3][4]. She’s not satisfied with being a pioneer—she wants to win at the highest level. And if her track record is any indication, it’s only a matter of time before she gets there.

References:

All American Speakers Bureau – Toni Breidinger
Wikipedia – Toni Breidinger
Circle Zero Eight – Toni Breidinger: The Barriers She’s Breaking as a Female Arab American NASCAR Driver
Autoweek – Toni Breidinger: Toyota Influencer in NASCAR
Arab American News – Toni Breidinger: First Arab American Woman in NASCAR
The Raszaire – Toni Breidinger Biography