NASCAR and female drivers have shared a turbulent history, with brief flashes of brilliance often overshadowed by the challenge of longevity. Names like Danica Patrick and Hailie Deegan have sparked hope, only to face hurdles that limited their lasting impact. Now, Tony Breidinger’s arrival has reignited optimism. Her time as a model may have turned heads, but the real question is whether she can back it up with results on the track—a conversation that has fans buzzing.

As the upcoming season unfolds, all eyes will be on Breidinger to see how she fares against stiff competition, and NASCAR insiders Ken Schraeder and Kenny Wallace have something to say about it. 

Tony Breidinger needs to outshine more than she did in her modeling career

At 25, she boasts an impressive modeling career and a solid racing résumé, with 19 USAC wins and a fourth-place finish at the ARCA Menards Series. Whether she can make her mark in the NASCAR Truck Series remains to be seen, but the potential for greatness is undeniable. The most striking aspect of Breidinger that has immediately captured attention is her successful modeling career. Known for her work with brands like GAP and Victoria’s Secret, she made the transition to racing, a move that raised both intrigue and skepticism.

Her looks and her track performances have drawn the attention of NASCAR insiders, including Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader, who have shared their insights. Wallace remarked, “This Tony Breidinger makes news—she signs on for a full truck series next year with Tricon, number five Toyota Tundra. This girl is different than the rest of them, Kenny. She’s a girly girl, uh, she’s got great sponsors. Do you know anything about her?”

Schraeder made it clear there was only one thing that Breidinger needed to prove her mettle in NASCAR: results. He said, “Not a lot. I mean, I know she’s run some ARCA stuff. I know she’s run—she’s run good. But, you know, right now in my mind—and this will be, you know, she—we’ll find out. You know, results speak for themselves. I don’t care if she’s a very attractive young lady or just some kid from Shark Track. You know, the results will—the results will show. Yeah, I think what stands out to me about her is, I mean, she’s a Victoria’s Secret model.”

If it’s results the NASCAR legends want to see, Breidinger has them. She made history at the Kansas Speedway in the year 2023 when she ended up being the highest-placing female debut driver in series history. With 11 Top 10 finishes in 20 races during the 2024 season and a historic 27 Top 10 finishes in her ARCA Menards Series career—the most by a female driver—she’s already performed quite a bit. 

What makes her record even more impressive is that Breidinger’s record in all NASCAR Series is better than any other female driver in the sport, even better than Danica Patrick and Hailie Deegan. Arguably, Toni Breidinger’s performances have come from running part-time in the Truck Series. Despite her impressive achievements so far, it’s still uncertain how she will fare in the long term.

This is especially true as she embarks on her full-time NASCAR journey in 2025, signed by Tricon Garage and set to drive the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. In a sport where female drivers have struggled to leave a significant mark, Breidinger has the opportunity to break the mold and stand out. Breidinger has managed to secure major sponsorships from names like Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS, and Sunoco, underscoring her appeal. While her modeling background may have helped attract these partnerships, her driving abilities have also been a significant factor.

With two major names in NASCAR setting the expectations for Breidinger, let’s see what she has to say about her Truck Series seat.

Breidinger has high hopes for a full-time Truck Series debut

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When the move was first announced, Toni Breidinger was subjected to a lot of criticism. Some fans didn’t want to get their hopes up after what happened with Hailie Deegan and Danica Patrick. Others believed Breidinger was only signed because of the marketability aspect. After all, she does have more Instagram followers than any Cup Series driver, even more than 7-time Most Popular Driver Chase Elliott.

For 2025, Breidinger believes she has what it takes to make her mark in NASCAR. “I mean, obviously trucks is that next step up, so there’s going to be a learning curve to it. But I feel like running Daytona this year in the Truck Series, and the few starts I made last year, I kind of was able to get a feel for what to expect for next season if I were to run it full time,” she explained.

Early in 2024, Toni Breidinger took part in the Truck Series race at Daytona. She impressed fans with a strong qualifying outing, setting herself up in 13th place for the race. However, in the actual race, she found herself struggling on the track, tumbling down the grid and finishing 27th.

Now, it’s important to remember it was only her fourth race in the series. Running part-time in NASCAR means it time for a driver to get a proper feel for the car. Fortunately for Breidinger, she won’t have that problem anymore. Moreover, she also has experienced racer Corey Heim as her teammate, who can certainly help her get used to the series.