Female driver Toni Breidinger has opened up on her first full-time season driving in NASCAR and how she wants to pave the way for the next generation of talent.

Breidinger - a San Francisco, California native - was the only full-time female driver to race in a NASCAR national series in 2025, stepping up from the ARCA Menards Series where she had raced the year prior.

Piloting the No. 5 Tricon Garage Toyota Tundra, Breidinger had a difficult first campaign, finishing inside the top 20 on just two occasions, but also learning a hell of a lot along the way.

Breidinger: I learned more than I ever expected

Now that the season is over, Breidinger has been able to reflect on her first year on the NASCAR national circuit, and looking back, she cannot believe just how much she has developed as both a person and a driver.

“I honestly learned so much, and so much more than I would have ever expected to learn,” Breidinger explained to SI.

“Looking back, there’s so much that I wish I could tell myself, starting the season. I think overall, I got a feel for all the tracks on the schedule, starting to get used to the truck.

"I think the biggest thing for me is just the confidence that I gained throughout the season, and one of the biggest things I learned, is that, there were a lot of challenges and I think the way that I was able to overcome them and get back up and get back up stronger is something I’ll really take away into next season.”

Breidinger continued: “I didn’t really know what to expect, but I think it was more a learning curve than what I was probably anticipating, but I also knew it was going to be a challenge.

“I think there was a lot that I learned that you just don’t know what you don’t know, so I think the amount of knowledge I ended up getting by the end of the season was surprising to me because it’s definitely a big step from the [ARCA Menards Series].”

Breidinger chasing legacy and performance

Not content with just improving her performances and results, as a female NASCAR driver, Breidinger is also very much chasing a legacy in the sport.

The 26-year-old wants to make a lasting impact and impression, and help pave the way for the next generation of female talent to come through the sport.

“There’s so much I want to achieve, career-wise, but I think if I look at something as my legacy, I want to hopefully create a more welcoming environment, hopefully pave a path for females in the sport,” Breidinger added.

“I think that’s been the most rewarding thing for me this year is just the young girls coming up to me and saying that I inspire them or that they’re starting to race because of me.

“That’s been the most rewarding thing out of any race I’ve done, out of any campaign I’ve done, it’s been those younger girls who are inspired by me, because I was once that young girl in their position.”