“It was a tough decision”: Toni Breidinger explains reason behind withdrawing from Watkins Glen mid-race

NASCAR driver Toni Breidinger had to pull out mid-race from the ARCA Menards Series race at Watkins Glen International. Her crew chief Cayden Lapcevich replaced her to finish the General Tire 100 race.

Breidinger pilots the #25 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports, competing full-time in the ARCA Menards Series. She started the General Tire 100 race in P16, but due to an injury she had suffered in a previous race, the #25 driver had to make a tough decision, deciding the fate of her race. She drove down pit road, and in a dramatic turn of events, her crew chief replaced her in the #25 Toyota.

Following her exit from the car, a Fox reporter asked Breidinger to shed light on the event that led up to the exchange, and how she felt about the decision.

"Yeah just got an injury recently, and it's the toughest decision I've had to make. Yeah, that was awful," Toni Breidinger said. "I told them, I was like, 'Cayden (Lapcevich), you have to do it yourself.' That was honestly the hardest decision I've ever made. Never thought I'd have to pull myself out of a race but I know Cayden will finish that well."

On being asked whether she will make an appearance at the next ARCA Series race, Toni Breidinger said:

"Yeah, definitely. I mean I'd just say, keep it long-term in mind. I don't want to really mess up my foot to where I'm out for the rest of the season so, just trying to keep all that in mind."

Lapcevich is a NASCAR Canada champion. He has secured six race wins, and 25 top-10 finishes in 31 race starts in the series. The 24-year-old finished the race in P17, after replacing Breidinger in her #25 Toyota.

This year's campaign has been quite underwhelming for Breidinger as she has often found herself at the wrong end of the stick. However, she plans to make amends in the coming races.

---

Venturini Motorsports creates history with Toni Breidinger and others in the Springfield ARCA 100

Earlier this year, Venturini Motorsports created history in stock car racing by fielding four female drivers in the Springfield ARCA 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Venturini Motorsports, founded by two-time ARCA Racing Series champion Bill Venturini Sr., is one of the oldest organizations in the sport. In a press release ahead of the ARCA race in Illinois, his son and co-owner Billy Venturini shed light on this historic moment.

"Over the past couple of decades, we’ve seen more women drivers making a positive impact on our sport," he said. "Although female drivers competing at this level is nothing new I’ve seen more and more talented women drivers coming up the ranks the last few years."

Venturini Jr. added:

"These women on our team are great role models for younger girls looking at our sport. This weekend will be special but honestly I don’t really look at it as gender specific – for us it’s just another day at the track with our drivers."

Toni Breidinger, Isabella Robusto, Taylor Reimar, and Amber Balcaen are the four drivers who made history.