Toni Breidinger, the first Arab-American woman to race in NASCAR, has once again captured the spotlight by being featured on the cover of the 2025 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Known for her rare combination of speed, style, and beauty, Breidinger joined a trailblazing group of female athletes honored for redefining what it means to be a modern sports icon.
Breidinger is seen posing in a green bikini for photographer Ben Horton at The Boca Raton as the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue’s newest athlete. Breidinger, who was once a Victoria’s Secret model, quickly rose to fame after driving in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series. She is currently in her first full season in the Truck Series.
Toni Breidinger Makes Waves on and off the Track
Speaking about the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue’s newest face, MJ Day, SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief, said, “We are thrilled to launch our shoot season for the 2025 issue with an extraordinary lineup of powerful female athletes. This remarkable group, featuring Olympic medalists, world champions, and record holders, embodies the next generation of all-stars poised to transform the world of sports.
“They defy stereotypes and champion equality, inspiring young girls to envision themselves as both athletes and leaders. At SI Swimsuit, we’ve always celebrated the future of women, and there’s no better way to honor these remarkable achievements than by featuring them on the pages of our issue.”
Breidinger first made headlines in 2022 when she became the first NASCAR driver to model for Victoria’s Secret, which is also one of her racing sponsors. She made her full-time NASCAR Truck Series debut at the Heart of America 200 in 2023 at Kansas Speedway. She finished that race in 15th place, which is still her best finish in the series so far.
Racing for Toyota Racing Development, she clinched one podium finish at the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, five Top-5 finishes, and 27 Top-10 finishes. She also became the first female driver to compete in two NASCAR races in a single day. This season, Breidinger signed a contract with Toyota’s marketing department and joined Tricon Garage as a full-time driver in the NASCAR Truck Series.
“It’s been a really fun journey,” Breidinger had told NYLON before the 2024 Daytona 500. “It’s nice to see we’re getting some traction on social media, and pretty cool to see I have decent numbers compared to the guys in the NASCAR Cup Series at the top level who are on TV every weekend.”