Toni Breidinger is challenging assumptions about her dual careers in racing and modelling by proving she can excel in both simultaneously. At 26, she competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series while building a successful portfolio as a brand ambassador and model, highlighting the synergy between her fashion pursuits and her NFL racing fashion balance.
Despite critics who suggest her endorsement deals distract from her racing, Breidinger dismisses these claims confidently. She explains,
“When people say that doing brand deals affects my performance, I’m like, ‘No, you know what affects my performance? Not being able to race because I can’t afford it’,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver. This statement reveals the financial realities of motorsport, where funding directly impacts seat time and success.
The Financial Reality and Work Ethic Behind Racing
Motorsport requires significant investment, and Breidinger’s strong work ethic is central to managing the demands of both racing and endorsement engagements. She describes the necessity of constant activity:
“You need seat time to get better, and you have to pay for it… it sounds toxic, but I’m okay with working 99% of the time right now,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver. Her commitment allows her to pursue racing at the highest level while leveraging her modelling career as a vital funding source.
Balancing these obligations is complex, but Breidinger is focused on making the sacrifices worth it:
“It’s a cycle, and I’m still figuring out how to balance it, but I’m at a critical point in my career so I want to give it 1000% and look back knowing it was worth it,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver. This determination illustrates her resilience in a sport where women remain a minority and frequently must prove themselves over and over again.
Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities
Breidinger’s unique position as the first Arab-American woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned event gives her access to a broader range of sponsors beyond traditional motorsport partners. By embracing both her identity and her femininity, she appeals to brands eager to engage the growing female sports audience.
“I like leaning into the female-focused brands and products that I use myself, because they’re often things that my male team-mates don’t use,”
Breidinger says.
“I might as well leverage that and build partnerships with brands that are authentic to me and tap into [the female] demographic,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver.
This strategy allows her to break from the conventional sponsor pool pursued by other drivers and create a more diverse and lasting impact in the sports marketing world.
Building Authentic Brand Partnerships
Her partnerships span from fashion and lifestyle brands to unexpected sectors, reflecting her wide appeal. Dave & Buster’s is a recent sponsor that highlights this range. Breidinger shares the personal significance:
“It’s important that all of my deals feel authentic and are really aligned with me,”
she explains.
“Dave & Buster’s is a place I grew up going to in the Bay Area with my sister. Whenever we had an off weekend from karting, we’d go play games, so this is a really nostalgic, full-circle moment,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver.
Her national campaign with Raising Cane’s also helped blend fan bases and attract attention from diverse audiences, boosting her visibility beyond the traditional motorsport demographic. She notes,
“When I did my national campaign with Raising Cane’s last year it drew a lot of attention from their fans and kind of blended our fan bases together,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver. These collaborations reveal how Breidinger’s crossover appeal helps expand NASCAR’s reach.
Inspiring Young Women Through Visibility and Confidence
Breidinger views her role as a trailblazer for female participation in NASCAR as crucial. She frequently encounters young women inspired by her journey.
“It’s always really exciting to meet young girls who say they want to race because of me,”
she says.
“I want to be able to inspire them to pursue their passions… especially in NASCAR, which is still very male-dominated,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver. She emphasizes showing girls that femininity and athleticism are not mutually exclusive.
Highlighting the importance of inclusivity, she adds,
“When I was younger, I was insecure about pursuing a career path that was out of the norm, so it’s important to be inclusive and build community to show young girls that you can have other passions and it won’t take away from your sport,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver.
How Fashion Fuels Racing Confidence
Fashion for Breidinger isn’t simply a career or hobby, but a critical factor in her overall performance. It acts as a creative outlet and booster of self-esteem. She explains,
“It’s a creative outlet and a way for me to express myself. The better I feel, the better I’m going to race,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver.
“It’s all about confidence – you want to show up feeling good about yourself.”
This mindset underlines the connection between her off-track passions and her competitive drive.
Her ability to attract major fashion brands is demonstrated by her partnership with Coach, which supports female athletes across multiple sports. Additionally, Breidinger secured a groundbreaking deal with 818 Tequila, a brand owned by supermodel Kendall Jenner.
“Kendall wished me luck before the race [in Nashville], which was amazing,”
Breidinger says.
“She’s a female in a very male-dominated world and has really been paving the way in the liquor space, so I feel like we align in some ways,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver.
Balancing a Demanding Dual Career with Focus and Poise
Despite the hectic schedule that includes flights between New York Fashion Week and NASCAR events like those at Daytona International Speedway, Breidinger maintains a steady focus on her ultimate goal of success on the track. About managing her time and career progression, she states,
“I take it one step at a time,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver.
“My perfect five-year plan would be to get to the Cup Series.”
While acknowledging that
“a lot of factors would need to align”
for advancement, Breidinger’s consistent performances and strategic partnerships signal a promising trajectory. Her team, Tricon Garage, respects her multifaceted career, supporting her choice to pursue parallel paths.
“When I’m at the track, I’m their race car driver,”
she shares.
“They’re so professional and don’t ask too many questions. But they respect that I have other jobs, and they see that I’m trying to balance everything,”
—Toni Breidinger, Race Car Driver.
Expanding Motorsport’s Reach Through Authentic Engagement
Breidinger’s ability to connect with underrepresented demographics has made a quiet yet significant impact on American motorsport’s growth. Her presence encourages more inclusive fan engagement and brings new sponsor interest to NASCAR. By successfully merging racing and fashion, she is redefining what it means to be a professional athlete in motorsport today, while creating a lasting legacy for women aiming to balance diverse interests in a demanding sport.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Toni Breidinger’s story?
A. Growing up in Hillsborough, California, Breidinger began racing go-karts when she was nine years old. By the time she turned 15 in 2014, she had transitioned to the USAC Western US Asphalt Midget Series. Two years later, she won the championship in that series.