February brings fresh starts for the ARCA Menards Series as the 2024 season opener is just right around the corner. However, Toni Breidinger, she’s already been getting some reps in.
“I actually just did my first race last weekend, so my off-season finally came to an end. I’m running Speedweeks out here (New Syrmna Speedway) in the Pro Late Model for the next week and a half or week or so before Daytona. I’m excited to get some repetition and get behind the wheel. Even practice, restarts and all that. All the little things before the big races.”
Before she hits the infamous 2.5-superspeedway at Daytona Beach though, she took some time to look back at her previous campaign in 2023.
“I feel like I improved a lot I think pretty much every single track that I went to I improved. For me, that was a good confidence booster that I haven’t stalled out. That I still have more in me.”
The 24-year-old is coming off her best career season in the ARCA Menards Series where she pulled in four top-fives, including her career-best third-place finish at Kansas, seven top-10s, an average finish of 10.2, and completing 98.8 percent of the laps she ran in just her 13 starts. Now she’s heading into the new year refreshed and ready to return to full-time competition.
Full time in 2024! Excited to get to work in the No.25 Toyota Camry! @ToyotaRacing @VenturiniMotor pic.twitter.com/LLhrCGatVb
— Toni Breidinger (@ToniBreidinger) January 26, 2024
“I feel confident about making those same gains and just improving that same amount is going to put me in a great spot for some really good results this season. I’m not done yet. I’m looking forward to building off the progress I made last season and keep it going this year,” she added.
The upcoming season will mark her fifth year the Hillsborough, CA has been in the series dating back to 2018 and just her second full-time season since 2022. While other young prospects are climbing the ranks, Toni takes a much different approach to racing.
“Just thinking of long term for me, I want to be in this sport for a long time and I want to make it to the Cup Series. To rush it up just to get fame and attention in that short little time span of making your debut and trying to rush yourself up to another series, I think it just kind of backfires, and overall, you’ll lose confidence in yourself.”
2024 also marks the fifth year that she has been part of the Toyota Development system and driven long-time ARCA Menards Series team Venturini Motorsports. Breidinger credits both them and her partners to giving her the time and environment to grow as a driver but also just having that personal connection to her outside the track.
“I feel like all the brands that I work with are really authentic to myself. If you’ve ever seen, you’ve probably seen me holding a Celsius in my hand, even before our partnership. It’s really cool to work with brands that I actually genuinely love…I love Raising Canes, I love Celsius, and Victoria’s Secret has been one of my favorite brands for as long as I can remember. I’m very fortunate to have brands that are so authentic to me.”
She also says the support system within the walls of VMS’ shop really makes her feel at home. Venturini is coming off winning the ‘Team Award” from NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity.
“That’s one of the reasons I feel like I fit so well in with Venturini. I think just the fact that they embrace diversity, and want to see more diversity in the sport. It’s a big thing that’s important to me. Being surrounded by people that have those same morals and values. It’s really comforting and cool to see. I’m very proud to be a part of that team and it’s cool to see more diversity in the sport…It’s very family-like.”
Looking ahead, Breidinger is set for full-time competition in the ARCA Menards Series and the chance at the driver’s championship. She’s also set to run the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona driving the No. 1 Celsius Tundra for TRICON Garage. She’s been with the team before, bringing home a top-15 in her first career Truck Series start.
beyond grateful to join the @CelsiusOfficial family! this is definitely a full circle moment for me. I’ll be driving the No.1 @CelsiusOfficial Tundra TRD Pro with @TRICONGarage at Daytona! pic.twitter.com/5Q8x2tlm4n
— Toni Breidinger (@ToniBreidinger) February 1, 2024
“It’s going to be exciting. It’s cool that Celsius is on the truck and the ARCA car. It’s gonna be a really fun, exciting weekend. I almost wish the ARCA race was ahead of the truck race just to help prepare for it a little bit more. I think it’s just gonna make the ARCA race a little easier for me, I think. Everything in the truck from what I’ve felt in the past is just amplified vs the ARCA car. So, I think there’s gonna be a lot that I can learn in the truck series that I can take into the ARCA Series.”
As for the rest of 2024, Toni says she’s got the championship in site, but also wants to have some short-term goals week in and week out.
“I went for it in 2022 and it was my rookie year and there was a lot for me to learn. Now I feel like it..it’s my second time around. No excuses. I’m definitely more of a veteran in the series at this point. I would say for me I’m definitely going for the championship, but also just setting the progress goals. For me, I just want to be really present going into each race I just want to execute every weekend and I already know that it’s going to put us in a good spot for the championship. Executing, having consistency, and good results will get us there.”
You can catch Toni this weekend in the Celsius Energy Drink car for Venturini Motorsports and Truck for TRICON Garage this weekend. The green flag flies for the Fresh From Florida 250 live on FS1 at 7:30 PM ET.
