Model Turned Driver Toni Breidinger shares thoughts on her rollercoaster NASCAR journey

Toni Breidinger looked poised for a breakthrough in the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday night. The 25-year-old was on pace for what could have been her best finish of the season, holding steady within the top 20 during the final stage of the Weather Guard Truck Race.

However, with just laps remaining, Breidinger’s night took a turn for the worse as she lost control and hit the wall, ultimately crossing the finish line in 25th place. Despite the crash, she remained ahead of fellow racer Frankie Muniz, who ended the race in 31st.

Reflecting on Progress and the Path Forward

Following the race, Breidinger remained upbeat about her development and spoke to Frontstretch about her mindset moving forward.

“Yeah, I mean just keep improving,” she said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit better every race; just execution hasn’t been there. Results haven’t been there. Gonna start putting everything together.”

While the results haven’t yet aligned with her expectations, Breidinger believes she’s gradually improving and is focused on consistency and execution in the races to come.

A Rookie Year Filled With Learning Curves

Breidinger is currently competing in the Craftsman Truck Series, riding the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Tricon Garage in her rookie season. 2025 started pretty badly for her, strewn with a crash at Daytona and a Bristol outing full of challenges. Nevertheless, she's already got on her CV two top-20 finishes during the 2023 campaign.

Her 2024 season in the ARCA Menards Series best demonstrated her talents, as she finished in fourth overall-a performance of note in a series that throws out names that become future NASCAR Cup stars.

Indeed, more than a racecar driver: A rising star On and Off the Track

Outside the track, Breidinger proves she continues to make splashes in the pond, once signed by IMG Models and being exposed into a number of high-profile commercial shoots while mixing a burgeoning racing career with her presence in the fashion world.

Chandler Smith Scores Bristol Victory

That race would not round off Breidinger's race, but the night belonged to Chandler Smith, who scored his first win on the 2025 season. Smith-a former third-place finisher in the 2022 Craftsman Truck Series and a top-five contender in the 2024 Xfinity Series-held off Cup Series ace Kyle Larson to clinch the victory by just 0.934 seconds.

Larson, chasing an almost elusive NASCAR triple over the weekend, would later go on to win the Xfinity Series race that Saturday night.