Toni Breidinger is ready to shatter stereotypes. The 25-year-old prepares for her big role with a full-time debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season. The No.5 TRICON Garage driver comes with thrilling experiences at USAC, setting a record of 19 wins to go with 27 top-10 finishes over 65 races in the ARCA Menards series. Before the California natives shift gears on the Truck Series pavements, she openly acknowledges the challenges ahead.  

Every debutant has gone through a similar phase that Toni Breidinger is experiencing. Hendrick Motorsports’ latest signee Corey Day recently opened up about his biggest challenges while making his way into the HMS fold with part-time races across multiple series, saying, “There’s just so many differences”. While Day’s remark comes in comparison to his dirt racing background, Breidinger expressed a similar sentiment coming from the ARCA series, reflecting the effort needed to survive in NASCAR.

Toni Breidinger finds these challenges exciting

Toni Breidinger’s primary starts came in the No. 1 truck of TRICON Garage in four races. Starting with the 2023 Kansas Speedway, which marked her best performance in the series to date with a finish of 15th, she followed that with her second-best finish at 17th in the Nashville Superspeedway during the same year. She then raced at World Wide Technology Raceway the same year finishing 24th. By the end of 2024, Toni gained experience racing at Daytona International Speedway as well, where she finished 27th. “What would be the biggest challenge of doing full-time trucks?” asked Bob Pockrass to the Breidinger in a recent interview

As she transitions into a full-time role with the team and pilots the No. 5 Toyota Tundra truck this year, Breidinger explained interestingly, “I would say biggest challenge running full time in the truck series, I think, is I’m gonna go to a good amount of tracks that I haven’t been to before. And then I think also, like, with the schedule being so stacked, you don’t have, like, too much time. Like, you have time to prepare, but it’s, like, the next weekend’s, like, a new track and a new track and a new track. So I think just, adapting really fast and, yeah, I think that’s gonna be, like, my biggest thing.”

Breidinger’s stint in NASCAR’s top tiers has only come at a part-time capacity, so adapting to a full-time schedule will certainly be a learning curve for the driver. With races every week across the country, it can certainly get exhausting for a rookie driver. In 2023 she opened up about making her part-time Truck Series debut in a Redditt AMA (Ask me Anything) session and confessed to the learning curve, writing, “I’m expecting it to be a huge learning curve so I’m going in with an open minded and ready to soak everything up.” 

Regarding learning curves, the placement of restart zones near turns in the Craftsman Truck Series is one of the most challenging aspects of the race. Often leading to chaotic situations, adding to the frustration of the drivers fighting for their position in the race. The series often marks the blend of veterans behind the wheel and rookies still learning how to navigate through the tracks smoothly, which makes the situation thrilling yet the risky part of the race. Expressing her opinion on the cutthroat restart situation, Toni Breidinger said, “They’re gonna be big. I think I prepared. I kinda got my feel for it in the few races that I’ve done. They’re intense, but, yeah, I’m excited. I think, I don’t think it’s gonna be easy. I think it’s gonna be difficult, but the challenge is exciting. So I’m looking forward to it.” 

ARCA Menards Series acts as a developmental series for aspiring drivers to advance their racing careers, especially in the Cup Series. But in the Truck Series, things get a bit different. ARCA cars are based on older stock car designs and can vary in body style, while NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series vehicles are purpose-built trucks with a unique design. In addition, the trucks have more horsepower and are comparatively faster with different technical implications.

Drawing a comparison between the two, Toni said, “I feel like I got a good feel for the differences, between the ARCA car and the truck at Kansas because I ran back to back And then also Daytona, which there was, like, a big difference in ARCA car versus the truck. They just draft so much easier, and, I got wrecked in the truck in Daytona. It wasn’t obvious, but I could feel it. And I was like, dang. Like, the ARCA car is so much more put and stable. So I feel like those races, I was able to feel such a difference with, like, how much more the truck moves and, how much more air dependent they are.”

It’s great to see female drivers stepping up in male-dominated motorsports. Breaking the stereotype, the Craftsman Truck Series also features a 50-year-old driver who continues to keep with her pursuits in the series.

Trending

1

“I’d Have Smacked Him”: NASCAR Veteran Sends a Strong Message to Defend Dale Earnhardt Jr. Against Fans’ Hate

2

Roger Penske’s Final Hopes Slipping Away as NASCAR Fans Prepare for Honda

3

NASCAR Rumors: $41B Japanese Giant to Outrun Dodge to Become NASCAR’s 4th Manufacturer Days After New Reports

4

Rick Hendrick Accused of ‘Burying’ Ross Chastain’s Real Persona as Fans Insinuate Trackhouse’s Exit From Chevy

5

Pressured by Brad Keselowski, Roger Penske Spills Truth on Reviving Joey Logano’s NASCAR Career

Through the times: Jennifer Jo Cobb in the Craftsman Truck Series

Throughout her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career, Cobb has achieved remarkable milestones, including a sixth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in 2011, a milestone to remember as she is part of a handful of elite female racers who have achieved a top-10 finish in the premier tiers of NASCAR. Moreover, she still drives the No. 10 Chevrolet Silverado for Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing part-time in the Truck Series, showcasing her passion for the sport both as a driver and the owner. 

In the Truck Series, she still holds several records such as the highest points finish by a female in a season (16th in 2014) and the most starts by a female driver (234). While has consistently strived to improve her performance, she also advocated women’s participation in male-dominated motorsports. Going beyond driving, Cobb’s commitment lies towards initiatives like Driven 2 Honor, which honors women in the U.S. military with a VIP experience at every NASCAR event she competes in.

She is now a motivational speaker and has some sound advice for girls wanting to pursue their dreams, “Be ready for a long, hard road and if it’s really what you want, never give up. Consider every failure a lesson and know that lesson is going to serve you in the future. With the right attitude, you can find purpose in almost every part of your journey.”

Although she couldn’t qualify in the Daytona season-opening race of the Truck Series, she remains focused on rebuilding her truck program and seeking sponsorships to support Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing. With this one thing is evident for sure, the positive determination and long-standing dedication to the sport is the real inspiration for the female drivers in the NASCAR. Let’s hope Toni Breidinger can proudly carry her torch in the Truck Series as the next era of female racing excellence.