TONI BREIDINGER’s Cup Series Dreams Face Reality Check From NASCAR Fans

June 3, 2025

by Shivranjini Parihar // from www.essentiallysports.com

• TONI BREIDINGER, the first Arab-American woman in NASCAR and currently the only woman racing full-time in the top three national series, has set an ambitious five-year timeline to reach the Cup Series. After 65 ARCA starts and a 4th place championship finish in 2024, she’s now tackling her Truck Series rookie season with Tricon Garage, though early results show her sitting 23rd in points without a Top 10 finish through 12 races.
• While BREIDINGER leverages her modeling career and partnerships with Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated to secure crucial sponsorship dollars, fans aren’t buying her Cup Series timeline. Reddit critics point to her struggles against teammates who are “legit championship contenders” and note that even top talent like Corey Heim isn’t expected to reach Cup until 2027, highlighting just how brutal the climb really is.
• The harsh reality check extends beyond fan criticism – BREIDINGER currently trails rookie leader and teammate Gio Ruggiero by 140 points and sits just one point above 22nd in owner’s points. Her situation echoes the cautionary tale of Hailie Deegan, whose NASCAR career ended bitterly despite Ford’s backing, proving that sponsorship support alone won’t guarantee the racecraft needed to compete at NASCAR’s highest level.

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