Written by Naza Yammine

Thumbnail Photo by Toni Breidinger on Twitter

From a young girl riding a go-cart gifted by her father, to racing on competitive tracks such as Daytona, Toni Breidinger has made history by becoming the first Arab American NASCAR driver. What her family considered a childhood fairytale led to her becoming a top racer, and her dedication to racing from a young age turning into a successful career.

It began 12 years after her passion was ignited from a simple go-kart ride with her twin sister. Breidinger then made the decision to sign with Young's Motorsports. This momentous accomplishment was well-deserved, as she is a 19-time United States Auto Club champ and holds this record for women drivers. On February 13th, 2021, she continued to trailblaze as she had her Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) debut in the No. 02 Young's Motorsports Chevrolet at the Daytona International Speedway.

Despite the copious accomplishments Toni Breidinger has under her belt, she says she is nowhere near done. She hopes to continue competing and reach the top racing series there is: The NASCAR Cup Series. Given her track record, this goal is not far from her reach.

Reportedly, many people in Toni’s life believed she would grow out of her childhood dream. However, she turned her dreams into reality, and her achievements are being highlighted beyond just NASCAR and the racing world. She’s made headlines on CNN, the Daily Mail and was even interviewed on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. This may lead many people to wonder, what makes her story this groundbreaking?

Toni is the first Arab woman in this field. Her experiences in the races are valuable to young girls who wish to follow in her footsteps. Furthermore, it is refreshing to know that as a woman in NASCAR, she is able to overcome any obstacles in her way. Her comments to Ellen DeGeneres made this clear, as she stated: "The car doesn't know gender. The track doesn't know gender. Gender is so irrelevant. As soon as the helmet comes on, everybody is just a driver out there." This may not eliminate all types of discrimination within the racing world, but it clearly shows that while she races, Toni feels empowered rather than limited.

It’s important to acknowledge the arguably large number of female competitors and fan base that NASCAR has. The league's problem has more to do with ethnic inclusivity. Not only is the lack of racial diversity obvious through a simple look at the Women in NASCAR page (which is mostly White-dominated), but it was also expressed in a lawsuit during 2016. A self-proclaimed "diversity guru" named Terrance Cox filed a $500 million lawsuit specifically addressing the lack of African Americans' in races. Although it was dropped in 2018, this lawsuit sparked conversation in the NASCAR world about people of colour in racing, forcing NASCAR organizers and fans alike to acknowledge a problem they had not previously recognized. This lawsuit shows that despite attempts to improve this problem, such as introducing diversity programs to encourage inclusivity on the tracks, there is still a long way to go. In fact, even in male-dominated races, representation remains a problem. Breidinger, who is of Lebanese descent, has helped to move the league in the right direction. Her achievement in the field and its effect on minority representation make her a terrific role model in this area.

NASCAR has an infamous past, wrought with problems related to racial and gender inclusivity. Taking all of these factors into consideration, and the accomplishments that Toni Breidinger has achieved, it is clear why this woman will go down in racing history. Representation in sports creates a ripple effect, in which young women of colour who identify with Toni will continue on to pursue their own dreams and goals. She understands the gravity of her position and the impact she has. As she explained to CNN, "I'm honoured and excited to be the first, but I don't want to be the last. I hope I can pave the way for future female Arab drivers as well." Through accomplishing her own dreams, Breidinger has done exactly that- encouraging women of colour across the globe to break the barriers placed in male-dominated sports and fields in general. There is something we can all learn, or at least appreciate from Toni Breidinger's passion, hard work and dedication.

The Significance Behind NASCAR’s First Arab American Female Driver

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