NASCAR Truck Series driver Toni Breidinger never had a backup plan if racing didn’t work out. She doesn’t believe in failure.
It was always going to happen exactly how she envisioned, and it did!
Breidinger is only in her first season on the official NASCAR circuit but the 25-year-old Truck Series phenom is already one of the most polarizing drivers in the sport. Young girls look up to her. Grown men love to hate her. No matter how fast she climbs up the ladder, she doesn’t get the respect she deserves— yet.
“People sometimes don’t see me as a driver because I look different than everybody else,” Breidinger said.” People love to say ‘you don’t look like a driver.’ That’s fine. None of us look like drivers until we’re in a race suit. There’s a common theme in the garage area and I am a little bit different to that. I don’t really have a choice but to embrace it. Being different is a good thing!”
That no-nonsense mentality allowed her to live out the dream she has been chasing since she was a child. Breidinger fell backwards into racing as a young girl. The freedom of a go-kart was a feeling that could not be matched and there was no other option but to go for it!
“I knew right away that this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be a race car driver as soon as I got in a go-kart but I didn’t know what that meant.
“It was not until I was 14 or 15 that I was passionate about NASCAR. I honestly started by Googling, “how to be a NASCAR driver.” My research led me to understand the importance of sponsorship and the ladder system I would need to follow, which allowed me to make a plan for myself and a presentation for my parents. I was like, ‘guys, this is what I need to do’ and I am very lucky to have their support.”
Whether it was driving or modeling, or both, Toni Breidinger is doing what she always set out to do.
“Don’t be afraid to be the first you,” Breidinger said. “I keep that in mind for myself just as much as I do for others. Sometimes I look around and wonder if I’m being too out there or too different. No. Who cares? Pave your own path! Just because nobody’s done it before doesn’t mean you can’t.”
I spoke with Toni prior to the Rackley Roofing 200 at the Nashville Superspeedway. We discussed a wide range of topics; from her relationship with 818 Tequila, Race Day chaos and social media to heat training, her twin sister Annie, and the challenge of being present to the moment. I was blown away by her poise, enthusiasm for life and desire to inspire the next generation of young women.
She does not shy away from the truth. Nor will she back down from a challenge!
Toni Breidinger is learning on the fly.
BroBible: “This is your rookie season in the Truck Series, but you’ve been around for a little while now on the ARCA Series, etc. Now that you’re in the thick of the NASCAR circuit, what is something that you didn’t realize when you were getting into it?”
Toni Breidinger: “I’ve learned so much this year. The jump on the competitive racing side from the ARCA Series to Trucks is pretty massive. The ARCA Series is a great stepping stone place to learn but the competition on Trucks is more intense. It’s my first time on a lot of the tracks this year and we only get 20 minutes of practice, which means I have to learn them really quick. I’m up against guys who have already been to these tracks a few times. And you have more obligations on top of it because it’s that next level up.”
BroBible: “You mention the obligations. At some point, no matter how much you love what you do, a job becomes a job. How do you balance the business side of what you do and the racing?”
Toni Breidinger: “Every week, really every day is different for me. Some days are focused on the business side and other days I’m fully focused on the racing side.
“It’s hard for some people in the sport, and then also people outside the sport looking in— people don’t always comprehend why I’m doing appearances and events and interviews. I’m like, ‘No, I literally wouldn’t be racing without doing all those things.’ You owe it to your partners to do those. You’re trying to build your brand. This sport is expensive to be in it.
“I’m very lucky that I love doing all that extra stuff, but it’s also crucial to do it because I really wouldn’t be here without it. People will say, ‘Oh, just focus on racing.’ I can’t. I literally would not be at the track if I wasn’t doing these extra things. So it’s hard. And people don’t always know the business. The ins and outs of everything. They don’t get it.
“And some drivers don’t have to do as much off the track and sometimes I’m like, ‘dang, I’m kind of jealous they can just fully focus on the racing side.’ But I get so many cool opportunities and I feel like I’m able to be a more well rounded brand in person because of it, so there’s positives and negatives, but it is a lot to balance.”
BroBible: “Your brand is massive. Especially when you compare it to the other drivers in the Truck Series. And people don’t understand how much goes into something as simple as a ‘Get Ready With Me’ video. Talk to me about that process.”
Toni Breidinger: “People see a 15-second video. They don’t see the hours it took to get to that video. And let’s be honest, do I wanna be making a TikTok right before I go out to race? No, that’s the worst timing. I just know it has to get done and I know I need that part of my brand. So yeah, it’s funny. It’s an obligation that I have and luckily that’s fine with me because I do enjoy making the content!”
BroBible: “Other drivers don’t have your same schedule because they aren’t as relevant outside of the track. Does that put you at a disadvantage?”
Toni Breidinger: “You have to be a light switch no matter who you are. Your brain has to work like a switch. 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, being approachable for people and taking photos with people and then hopping in the truck and getting ready to fight, basically. And then when I’m in the truck, I have a totally different mindset. I’m not a nice, bubbly person when I’m behind the wheel.”
BroBible: “What do you do to prepare for that moment when you flip that mental switch? Have you found a system that works for you? I would imagine it is very easy to lose focus if you aren’t ready for the chaos.”
Toni Breidinger: “I have a mental coach that I work with, and we work a lot on being present. Because I am doing so much stuff, I am always thinking about the next thing. I have people talking to me about next week’s announcements and next week’s race and all this stuff, and flying out to Los Angeles on Sunday. I’m like, ‘I need to focus on this race and get past this.’
“I struggled a lot my first season in ARCA with being present. I was worried about qualifying while we were practicing, or I was worried about the race while we’re going to qualify. And since I wasn’t present, I wasn’t able to fully execute each individual thing to the best of my ability because I was already worrying about the next thing. 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.”
Every week looks different and there aren’t enough hours in the day.
BroBible: “The mental side of the sport is just as important as the physical side. What do you do to prepare physically? How much time is spent in the truck, in the weight room, watching film, etc.? How does that break down?”
Toni Breidinger: “Everything would be evenly balanced in a perfect world but the world is not always perfect. I would say in a week where I’m not traveling, a typical week for me would involve physical training every day. And then I have an iRacing simulator that’ll hop on a few times a week. Toyota also has a full-on simulator that I will go on at least once a week.
“If I am traveling, then I really lean into the watching film and going over notes. That’s really big for me— watching on-boards. Because it is tough when I am traveling. It’s not like I have a simulator and my workout program is a little different.
“And then it’s also trying to get sleep between all that. Sometimes I have to think ‘okay, am I better off sacrificing a workout to get a little bit more sleep?’ It’s tricky finding out what that balance is. I’m still figuring it out to this day. Balance is different every week. It’s always changing.”
BroBible: “One day you’re in Miami for Sports Illustrated. Then you’re right back on the track. Then you’re off to Los Angeles. Then it’s back to Charlotte for training. Do you ever get tired? In what ways have you changed your routines to fit your busy schedule?”
Toni Breidinger: “I went from the Sports Illustrated party in Miami to flying to North Wilkesboro the next morning super early on limited sleep. I think for me, the hard part is trying to figure out when to sleep and get rest and make sure I’m also feeling prepared going to the track, because when I’m doing that other stuff, it is obviously taking away from the preparation for the race. So I am working on not psyching myself out with, ‘Oh, I didn’t prepare as much as I usually do, or I didn’t train this day.’ I need to have confidence in myself that I prepared to the best of my ability. I have to give myself grace.
“That’s one thing I’ve learned. I used to be so hard on myself, if I didn’t do enough of this or enough of that. It’s quite literally, there are not enough hours. I wish there was more hours in the day or more of me but I have learned to give myself grace that I maximized my day.
“I’ve been racing for a long time. I know what to do in the moment. If I throw myself into something, sink or swim, I feel like I’ll swim.”
Annie Breidinger keeps her twin sister grounded.
BroBible: “There are a lot of people out there who love to hate you. How do you deal with the people who don’t give you the respect that you deserve?”
Toni Breidinger: “Yeah. It can be hard. For me, I only care about my inner circle. If they’re not in my inner circle, does their opinion really matter? No, it doesn’t. What sucks is, I do like to read comments on social media because I like to acknowledge people that are actually true fans of myself. I’ve really had to stay off of it this year because I’ve seen the mean comments escalate a bit.
“People only see a little bit of my life and it’s barely real. People don’t take it with a grain of salt. They see me at one thing and they’re like, ‘she’s doing this all the time.’ No, I’m not. People don’t fully know you on social media even though it looks like that because you’re giving them insight into your life, but it’s only that little bit of your life. It’s not the full picture.”
BroBible: “I would imagine your twin sister, Annie, is part of the inner circle you mention. What kind of role does she play in your life today as your built-in best friend since birth?”
Toni Breidinger: “She doesn’t get the chance to come to that many races because she has a full-time job and everything so it is always special when she does make it out. She just gets me, and she also was racing before, so she understands that whole side too.
“Sometimes if I’m in a bad mood, like even if it’s somebody I’m close with, I don’t want to talk racing to them because they don’t necessarily get all the emotions that I’m going through through on race day. Annie has raced before so she gets all that.
“She’s always been there for me, even when I was younger. If I get nervous before race, I’ll ask her to just tell me something good, and she’ll tell me something good or funny to take my mind off of things. So it’s comforting to kind of have her there and have her support.”
BroBible: “Are you similar when it comes to how you think? Or are you more of yin and yang?”
Toni Breidinger: ”I feel like we’re so different. She’s hilarious but she definitely has a more dry sense of humor and she’s a little more direct. I always try to see the good in people and she’ll be like, ‘No, Toni, they just suck.’
“I love to get her opinion on stuff because I do feel like we see things in a different light. She’s always shoot me straight and I love her for that.”
Toni loves to go for a drive when she’s not driving.
BroBible: “You’ve already had a full day by the time you get in the truck for the green flag. The race will end at, what, 10:30/11:00 o’clock? And then you still have to close things down for the night. I would imagine you’re still wound up when you get home. How do you decompress?”
Toni Breidinger: “I stay for an absurd amount of time after races for no reason. I’m obviously tired from the race but I’ll stay up anyway. And I love being by myself after races.
“Even Annie, she’s in Nashville this weekend and was like, ‘Oh, come stay with us in Airbnb tonight after your race.’ I said no. I need that space to have my own thoughts and sit by myself in a hotel room. Or even after races, I’ll just go for drives for no reason.”
BroBible: “Really?! You go for a drive after you spent your whole day on the track?!”
Toni Breidinger: “Yeah, as a way to take my mind off of things. The race day is so busy, so chaotic. I need my own time to think and process alone.”
BroBible: “Do you drive the same when you get in the car for these post-race drives? What about when you’re going to the grocery store on a random Tuesday?”
Toni Breidinger: “It’s funny because I feel like I have to be very self-aware when I’m driving on regular roads. Especially right after races. If you’re on the track, you’re so used to being really close to other cars and going fast so I have to be much more aware of my speed!
“But I really do love driving even when I’m not on the track. I don’t get tired of it. They’re two different things and I love road trips. Even alone. It gives me time to myself, peace of mind.”
A skinny margarita with 818 Tequila always hits just right.
BroBible: What do you like do when you’re not driving, or training, or flying to the next event on the other side of the country? What does Toni Breidinger do on a day off?
Toni Breidinger: “When I’m not traveling all over the place, I love hanging out with friends. Really just normal stuff to balance out the chaos.
“We’ll make drinks, hang out watch a movie, chill, have a girls night. Me and my friends catch up and bond over a bottle of 818 Tequila, make drinks, have a girls night.”
BroBible: “What is your drink of choice?”
Toni Breidinger: “Skinny marg. Duh! Or, I love an espresso martini too.”
BroBible: “An espresso martini with tequila? I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
Toni Breidinger: “You’re missing out! 818’s Reposado makes an espresso martini that’s honestly way better than the usual.”
BroBible: “Along those lines, you get to attend a lot of different events and parties. What is the coolest thing you’ve done outside of racing? Was there ever a moment where you looked around and thought ‘how did I get here?'”
Toni Breidinger: “Working with 818 was honestly that moment where I thought, ‘oh this is sick.’ I’m working with a brand that I love and dreamed of working with. Kendall Jenner founded the brand and owns it. The fact that she (and they) want to support me and uplift me is surreal.”
BroBible: “That is cool to have Kendall in your corner and your truck looks pretty sweet with the 818 wrap. How did that partnership come together?”
Toni Breidinger: “We actually reached out to them. We were like, ‘hey would you be down to partner with me for the season?’ We felt like the brand really matched me and who I am. They got back to us almost right away and we made something happen. It’s been great!”
To race in the NASCAR Cup Series is the ultimate goal.
BroBible: “If you were not driving, what do you think you would you be doing?”
Toni Breidinger: “When I was younger, my biggest dream was to be a model and a race car driver. So it’s cool that worked out for me. I’m able to do both and I actually feel like they go hand in hand. I love marketing and I really do love the social media side of what I do. Both of those things are obviously really important to building my brand.
“I feel like I would have found my way into maybe the fashion world or marketing regardless, but everything that I’m interested in outside of the track, my job kind of involves that. And I’ve never had a Plan B, because if you have a Plan B, you think your Plan A is not going to work out!”
BroBible: “You achieved your childhood goal, which not a lot of people can say. Congratulations. That’s pretty cool. Is there a new goal?”
Toni Breidinger: “I’m going to be doing this forever. I would hope to be in the sport for a long time and it’s hard to put a timeline on everything because it changes every single day.
“I would say my five-year plan is to be in the NASCAR Cup Series. I feel that’s a realistic goal for me. But I would love to be in this sport until I have to stop doing it.”
BroBible: “Is the thought of failure something that scares you?”
Toni Breidinger: “I’m never scared in the truck but there is an aspect of, not wanting to fail because I don’t want to let people down. I have so many people working with me, especially this year moving up to the Truck Series. There’s more eyeballs. There’s more people working on the truck at the shop, at the track.
“I feel like there’s people’s livelihoods that rely on me. Their job relies on how well I do. So I feel like when I start getting into that mindset of, ‘oh, gosh, if I don’t do well, then this is going to affect the younger generation of girls coming up or maybe my team or maybe it’s gonna make my sponsors look bad.’ That thought process of ‘If I fail, it’s going to let other people down.’
“I’m such an empath and I care about everyone way more than myself. I’m never afraid for myself. It’s more of the anxiety that, oh, shoot, everyone else is relying on me for the goal.”
Toni Breidinger isn’t afraid to name names!
BroBible: “What about the other drivers? Do you feel, for lack of better word, pressure from them? Are you wanting to prove them wrong?”
Toni Breidinger: “I feel like I’m pretty tunnel visioned to where I don’t really pay attention to what other people are thinking quite as much. But there are certain moments where I know they’re treating me differently. I have teammates, so I can always compare, ‘okay, well this person just treated my teammate this way and they treated me a different way.’ There are obvious comparisons sometimes.
“It’s funny because when I brought that up in the past, people will say, ‘Oh, you’re being dramatic.’ No. I’m not. We literally get treated different because we’re girls. Like that’s just the way of life.”
BroBible: “Is it intentional?”
Toni Breidinger: “Maybe sometimes but people do it without even realizing. People make comments all the time and it’s not necessarily to be mean. I guess it’s the double standard that has always been around for women in a male-dominated sport.”
BroBible: “Even beyond the notion of gender, are there rivalries that exist among the drivers? If there is an incident one week, is that something that will carry over to the next? Or are you forgiving, forgetting, and moving on?”
Toni Breidinger: “Those things do stick in the sport, I guess. I would say so. I do feel like a lot of drivers have kind of that memory of when somebody drives them kind of dirty. So, yeah, I definitely. I don’t have much of a list this year…
BroBible: “I’m not asking you to name any names!”
Toni Breidinger: “I would drop them anyway if I had them! I guess there are a couple people where I thought, ‘yeah, they did me dirty. I owe them one.’ Then I feel like we’re even. And I think we all think the same. If I move someone out of the way, I fully expect for them to do it back. That’s just equal treatment!”
Rapid fire!!!!
BroBible: “What does your playlist look like when you’re headed to the track?”
Toni Breidinger: “It’s all over the place. It’s everywhere. This morning I was listening to Mariah Carey, Britney Spears— early 2000s moment. I’m definitely a pop girlie for sure. That’s my main category.”
BroBible: “Who is your celebrity crush?”
Toni Breidinger: “That’s a good question. I feel like I should have an answer ready… I need to think of who that is, just in case they see this. I wouldn’t want to name somebody that’s like in a relationship or an ex. Hm. I’m probably forgetting somebody specific but I definitely gravitate toward the athletes.”
BroBible: “Is a hot dog a sandwich?”
Toni Breidinger: “You know, I think I would say no, but like in theory, I don’t know why. Actually I know why. I think a hot dog, it’s more vertical. Sandwiches are more horizontal. So that’s why I would say no. Because then if a hot dog is a sandwich, you’re saying a taco is a sandwich, which it’s most definitely not. That sounds illegal.”