Toni Breidinger has opened up about the challenges and opportunities she faces in combining her NASCAR Truck Series racing ambitions with a growing modeling career, revealing how key brand partnerships sustain her journey in motorsports. The 26-year-old driver discussed the importance of sponsorships and her dual roles, directly connecting her modeling work to her ongoing efforts in the world of racing, with both fields becoming essential to her dream of success in a high-cost sport.
Juggling Dual Careers to Chase the Racetrack
Breidinger, who is both German and Lebanese, has become known not only for her work on the track but also for her high-profile modeling engagements. She has teamed up with brands such as Raising Cane’s, Coach, Dave & Buster’s, Victoria’s Secret, and 818 Tequila, while also appearing in publications like Glamour, GQ, and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Her efforts to excel in two competitive industries reflect her determination to break boundaries and secure essential funding for her NASCAR journey.
Discussing her roots and passion, Breidinger reflected,
“I was definitely a racer before anything. That was definitely my passion. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to do modeling to help support that passion. But at the end of the day, I definitely consider myself a racer. That’s what I grew up doing and that’s the career I’ve always wanted to do.”
—Toni Breidinger, TRICON Garage Driver
Elaborating on the business side of her journey, she stated,
“It’s all part of the business. It all goes back into my racing. The side hustles, I like to call them. I don’t think that takes away from me being a race car driver,” she added.
—Toni Breidinger, TRICON Garage Driver
Securing Sponsors in a Competitive System
The economic demands of NASCAR mean that drivers like Breidinger rely heavily on sponsorships and personal branding to access and maintain their positions in the sport’s development series. In a recent interview, she addressed criticism regarding her brand collaborations:
“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,” she said.
—Toni Breidinger, TRICON Garage Driver
This frank acknowledgment of pay-to-play realities reflects concerns in the racing community. NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano also recently spoke out against the system, explaining the constant need to secure funding even for top-tier drivers and how sponsorship can sometimes reduce the pressure on drivers for their on-track actions. While this arrangement gives drivers more chances to learn and develop, it can also lead to unpredictable racing outcomes and leave some competitors unprepared for the toughest levels of the sport.
Despite these challenges, Breidinger’s approach—leveraging her appeal and business acumen—resulted in securing a full-time seat with TRICON Garage, building off her Truck Series debut two years prior.
A Challenging Debut Season in the Truck Series
This season, piloting the #5 Toyota for TRICON Garage, Breidinger has faced a series of uphill battles in her rookie year. Save for a notable 18th-place finish at Rockingham Speedway, her results have generally placed her 20th or lower across sixteen starts, reflecting the steep competition and learning curve in the series.
Her struggles in qualifying have mirrored her race results, with an average start position of 25 and her best effort coming as the 18th starter at Atlanta. Most recently, she finished two laps behind the leaders at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, emphasizing how challenging the inaugural season has been.
Meanwhile, TRICON Garage teammate Corey Heim has enjoyed a season at the front of the standings, contrasting Breidinger’s current rank of 22nd—535 points behind the 23-year-old leader. Playoff hopes remain out of reach unless Breidinger can cause an upset in the final two races of the regular season.
Looking Ahead: Next Race at Watkins Glen
With little margin for error, Breidinger’s focus now shifts to the upcoming race at Watkins Glen International, where she will tackle 72 laps on the storied road course. This event, broadcast on FS1 at 5 PM ET on Friday, August 8, provides another opportunity for her to demonstrate her resolve and growth as both a racer and a brand ambassador. Fans and sponsors alike will be closely watching, as her journey in NASCAR racing and modeling continues under intense scrutiny and high expectations.
Toni Breidinger’s unique path highlights the evolving landscape of motorsports, where marketability and talent must work hand-in-hand to keep dreams alive. As this season draws to a close, her experiences may signal a shift for future drivers who, like her, seek to blend tradition with new ways to fuel their racing ambitions.
