Toni Breidinger Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue photos released

Over the past few months, Breidinger has stated that she hoping her images send a message, according to Anaya Panchal of Sports Illustrated. She says “empowered” is exactly how she wants other women to feel when they see them.

Moreover, Breidinger believes empowerment comes from visibility, per Panchal. While she’s not consciously dwelling on her status as a trailblazer, she knows it matters: “When I’m at the track, I’m not really thinking like, ‘Oh, I’m surrounded by guys’—but I am,” she told Panchal. “Now that I’ve kind of grown older, I realize that I’m doing something that’s kind of different.”

All told, Breidinger is one of the more popular names in all of NASCAR, amassing a massive following on social media over the past few years. She’s made strides on the track, and is hoping to continue her ascent over the rest of the 2025 season

Breidinger is still searching for her first top ten in the Truck Series, but her best finish in 2025 came earlier this season at Rockingham Speedway, when she finished P18. This past weekend she performed admirably at Kansas Speedway as well, finishing P20 in the race won by Carson Hocevar.

Perhaps she can use the momentum gained from her appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to help her a bit on the track moving forward. The future is bright for Toni Breidinger in NASCAR, and her crossover appeal has never been more apparent than it is now. 

The full Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue released on Tuesday, with models like Camille Kostek, Ellie Thumann and Xandra featured, and former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne on the cover. The trio took the mound before the official first pitch to between the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday to promote the issue, as Dunne’s boyfriend, Paul Skenes, started for the road team in Queens.