Toni Breidinger, part-time Craftsman Truck Series for Tricon Garage, has announced she’s locked in for the 2025 season, but this time as a full-time driver. In 2024, the 25-year-old San Francisco raced full-time for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series. She ran a single race with Tricon in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2024 but craved more and decided to permanently expand her truck series career. She joins young standouts Corey Haim and Tanner Gray on Tricon’s 2025 roster of full-time drivers. The move is something.
The move is long-awaited, which Toni Breidinger has dreamt of since she started racing part-time for Tricon Garage in 2023. However, the highest she placed in the Craftsman Truck Series was 15th at Kansas Speedway 2023. Fans and those within NASCAR’s close-knit community are concerned about success based on Kansas being her highest placement thus far. However, she has seen success racing with the United States Auto Club (USAC), earning an astounding 19 wins. The USAC is a division of national competitive racing that runs only short tracks, so that’s also a plus for Breidinger, but many remain apprehensive.
Why Toni Breidinger’s Is Moving To Full-Time
Toni Breidinger has always dreamt of running full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series but never thought it possible until recently. After splitting her time between ARCA Menards (East and West) and USAC for nearly 15 years, she jumped at the chance to drive when offered a full-time spot. Breidinger will pilot the No. 5 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage in February, replacing Dean Thompson. It remains unclear whether Thompson will return to the track in some form in 2025.
Thompson leaves Tricon ranked 16th in overall standings, securing six top-tens and zero wins in 2024. Can Toni Breidinger top these stats? Based on the 27 career-time top-tens and four top-fives she earned with Venturini Motorsports in ARCA Menards, it sure seems like it. She plans to bring this magic to the track in 2025 while living her dream. In a team press release, she also remarked that the long journey to this point was well worth it and capped it off by thanking her sponsors Sunoco Race Fuels, Raising Cane’s, Toyota, and CELSIUS Energy drinks.
“Racing full-time with TRICON is a dream for me,” Breidinger said in a team release. “It’s been a 15-year process to get here but I’m so excited for this moment and ready to capitalize on it.” I wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for Toyota, Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS, and Sunoco.” “I’m beyond grateful to have these partners and team in my corner to take this next step in my career.”
A Repeat Of Hailie Deegan?
Though Toni Breidinger is slated to bring immense talent to Tricon Garage and the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025, many are unsure about her full-time NASCAR Stint and worry she’ll meet the same fate as Hailie Deegan. Deegan, who had successful runs in ARCA Menards and the K&N Pro Series West, didn’t find herself as lucky with Craftsman and Xfinity Series. During her run with Xfinity, Hailie Deegan didn’t secure a win, top ten, or pole, and her best finish was 93rd in 2022. With Craftsman, her highest finish was sixth. However, her failure to produce results as an Xfinity driver led to Deegan’s axe from AM Racing in July and her subsequent move to Indy NXT.
Fans have taken to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice their concerns and predictions for Toni Breidinger in 2025. A supportive fan noted that Breidinger was the most likely to get things done in the series and that it was a massive win for NASCAR and women. In contrast, another fan retorted that Toni Breidinger would wind up far worse than Deegan, who at least won a few races during her time as an ARCA Menards driver. Only time will tell who predicted her upcoming stint correctly, but at least on social media, controversy is brewing.
“This is a massive W for NASCAR and women.” Toni is one who has the potential to get results,” Nicholas Barnoski said. “Hailie at least won a few races in the ARCA Series, Toni’s best finish is 3rd.” “She is staying with Toyota, which is where Hailie messed up when she left for Ford. “But if people thought Hailie didn’t focus on racing, they’ll lose their s*** with Toni.”, stated X subscriber and sports enthusiast Ryan Seib.
Final Thoughts
Toni Breidinger is a competent driver, but she still has a long way to go before she matches the level of her Ticon Garage teammates. There’s controversy swirling around him on social media and within the NASCAR community, but the 25-year-old is not letting this get her down. She’s ecstatic about the upcoming opportunity and credits her preparedness to her lengthy stints in ARCA Mendards (West and East) and USAC. Will the controversial predictions be accurate, or is it just petty speculation? Stay tuned to find out more.
