Toni Breidinger shares how she and her twin sister were inspired by dad's 'random' go-karting outing that led to her racing career

ARCA Menards Series driver Toni Breidinger recently discussed how she delved into the sport of racing. The 25-year-old recalls a "random" time when she went to drive a go-kart that led her to where she is today.

In an Instagram post from Uninterrupted, an athlete empowerment brand founded by NBA legend Lebron James and sports businessman Maverick Carter, the California native recalls driving go-karts for the first time at nine.

"It was very random. I was kinda at the age in life where I was just trying every kind of sport. I liked trying different things, but nothing really clicked where I was super passionate about it. Then, I got in my first go-kart just for fun."

The driver of the #25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota remembers her dad taking her and her twin sister, Annie, to a go-karting class about an hour from where she lived. Breidinger fell in love with racing and its competitiveness from that day forward.

"This whole new world was unlocked for me. I didn't even think about being a race car driver," Toni Breidinger said. "I didn't even know that it was even something that I could do. Then, once I got my first go-kart, I was like, 'Wait, I want to be a good race car driver.' I put my mind to it and here I am."

The 19-time winner in the United States Auto Club (USAC) acknowledged it was a process to get to where she is today, but is amazed by how something that started as a fond thing to do as a pastime turned into a career.

"It's kinda crazy how a random activity can just kinda click and change your life like that."

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Toni Breidinger's journey to reaching NASCAR

Toni Breidinger burst onto the scene in 2018 when she drove part-time in the ARCA Menards Series for Venturini Motorsports. In 2019, however, she tried in the W Series, a female-exclusive racing league.

Breidinger ended up not making the cut and returned to late-model racing in 2019 and 2020. She returned to ARCA in 2021 and competed part-time for Young's Motorsports.

This year, Breidinger competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, piloting the #1 Tricon Garage Toyota, while also fulfilling her full-time commitments for Veturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series. She's competed in four Truck Series events over the last two years and has yet to score a top 10.

In 51 career ARCA starts, Toni Breidinger has recorded 25 top-10 finishes and notched a career-best sixth in the season standings in 2022. She has also competed in the ARCA Menards Series East and West, accumulating five top-10 efforts. Her last appearance in May was in the ARCA Menards race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.