Antoinette Marie Breidinger, an American stock car racer and model, began racing in 2009 when her father gifted a shared go-kart for her and her twin sister, igniting her passion for the sport.
Toni Breidinger drives the No. 5 Toyota for Tricon Garage and competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Breidinger leads with 27 top-ten finishes by a woman in any NASCAR series.
She has also raced in the ARCA Menards Series and its East and West divisions.
Toni Breidinger Publicly Mentioned That She Wouldn’t Be Where She Is Today Without Her Father’s Support And Guidance!
Toni Breidinger was born on July 14, 1999, in Hillsborough, California.
The NASCAR racer has always credited her parents’ support for her success. Recently, her father also shed light on the strong bond with her.
In an interview, Toni Breidinger’s father, Charles, shared that she displayed a passion for racing from a young age.
Charles Breidinger mentioned,
“From a young age, Toni showed an unshakable passion for racing. As a father, it was sometimes hard to watch her face obstacles, but I knew she was determined to succeed”
Toni Breidinger’s father is a mechanical engineer. He used to work as a mechanic for their uncle and now maintains his daughter’s cars.
Her father said making his kids drive go-kart wasn’t his bucket list. On his way to work, he just happened to notice a billboard advertising go-kart lessons at Sonoma Raceway.
At that moment, Charles saw an opportunity to ignite a spark of curiosity and adventure in his daughters, which actually came true.
According to him, Toni’s journey to NASCAR has been challenging as it is a male-dominated sport. However, he emphasized that her persistence was an inspiration.
Her father believes that Toni’s success proves that anyone, regardless of background or gender, can achieve their dreams with hard work and dedication.
His public acknowledgment of her accomplishments underscores the importance of family in her journey to NASCAR.
Toni seems really close to her father and frequently posts about them on her social media.
In an interview, Toni also mentioned that her father got her interested in racing,
“When I was nine, my dad took me to a go-kart track for fun at Sonoma Raceway. I just fell in love with it, my first day out, they gave me the nickname ‘Hot Shoes’ because they thought I was so fast.”
Source: Essentially Sports
Toni Breidinger Is Also a Victoria’s Secret Model!
Toni Breidinger has successfully balanced her racing career with her role as a model for Victoria’s Secret.
She was featured in the brand’s 2023 Tour last September, marking her presence in the modeling industry.
Regarding managing both careers, Breidinger shared with Forbes that people told her to choose between being a race car driver or a model.
However, she explained that the two roles complement each other, and she feels that she balances them really well.
Breidinger also revealed that pursuing both careers has been her dream since childhood.
She even remembers telling a friend in middle school that she wanted to be a race car driver and a model.
Toni had one piece of advice for everyone,
“Don’t be afraid to be the first you.”
Additionally, she mentioned it’s a motto she’s lived by and serves as a guiding principle throughout her life.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Toni belongs to an Arab-American ethnic background.
- Breidinger once held the USAC record for most wins by a female driver when she was 19.
- Her twin sister, Annie, also raced until she decided to pursue a college degree.
