In the high-pressure world of NASCAR, Toni Breidinger has brought new attention to the importance of mental preparation, revealing how dedicated coaching has sharpened her focus for racing and off-track duties alike. As Breidinger begins her rookie year in the 2025 Truck Series with Tricon Garage, her journey highlights the essential role that mental coaching plays for drivers who must constantly juggle competing demands.
Juggling Racing and Public Commitments in the NASCAR Spotlight
NASCAR tests athletes both physically and mentally, with many drivers like Toni Breidinger hitting the gym to keep in top shape. However, as she steps into the Truck Series with Tricon Garage, Breidinger has emphasized that success on the track hinges just as much on the mental side of the sport. Unlike many rookies, she comes with five years of experience from the ARCA Racing Series, yet underscores a distinct new challenge: maintaining focus amid a sea of distractions.
Competing drivers are often required to balance their on-track responsibilities with sponsor relationships and brand commitments, such as commercial shoots and promo events, sometimes just minutes before racing. For Breidinger, who hails from California, keeping a level head has become a skill she must master to remain competitive.
“You have to be a light switch, no matter who you are. Your brain has to work like a switch,”
—Toni Breidinger, NASCAR Driver
“Even up until the green flag, fans and sponsors will come up to me to take photos. It’s hard to transition from that mindset of, you know, of being approachable for people and taking photos with people and then hopping in the truck and getting ready to fight, basically.”
—Toni Breidinger, NASCAR Driver
This kind of mental agility was on display when Breidinger filmed a branded video for CoverGirl just before her race, seamlessly shifting from promotional work to competitive focus. The ability to flip this ‘switch’ is crucial, helping her meet the expectations of sponsors such as those at Tricon Garage while staying ready to perform under green flag conditions.
Mental Coaching: Finding Presence Amid High-Stakes Racing
To help balance the relentless demands of NASCAR racing and business obligations, Breidinger works with a mental coach. This specialized guidance centers around being present, ensuring she doesn’t become overwhelmed by upcoming tasks or external pressures. The driver admits her tendency to focus on what comes next was a hurdle during her ARCA Racing Series years, impacting her performance.
“I have a mental coach that I work with,”
—Toni Breidinger, NASCAR Driver
“and we work a lot on being present. Because I am doing so much stuff, I am always thinking about the next thing.”
—Toni Breidinger, NASCAR Driver
Reflecting on her ARCA days, Breidinger notes how her inability to remain present in practices and qualifying likely prevented her from capturing a victory across 65 starts. The focus on being ‘in the moment,’ rather than anxious about future challenges, has now become a crucial element in her NASCAR preparation.
“I struggled a lot my first season in ARCA with being present,”
—Toni Breidinger, NASCAR Driver
“That’s the biggest thing that has helped me, is just being present in the moment, not thinking ahead about this or that or creating unnecessary what ifs.”
—Toni Breidinger, NASCAR Driver
Sustained Progress in the 2025 Truck Series Season
Embracing mental coaching and committing to present-moment awareness, Toni Breidinger is starting to see results in her performance. Through twelve races in her first Truck Series season, the Tricon Garage driver has already notched two top-20 finishes, including a strong result at Rockingham. This marks a measurable improvement from her ARCA career, where distractions sometimes obscured her potential.
As Toni Breidinger continues her rookie campaign in one of NASCAR’s most demanding environments, her mental preparation and dedication offer a roadmap for both newcomers and veterans alike. If her early success is any indication, Toni Breidinger mental coaching in NASCAR racing may prove a defining factor in her rise through the ranks, and a model for future generations of drivers navigating the sport’s intense balance of opportunity and pressure.
