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- Toni Breidinger is the first Arab American female driver to race in a NASCAR national series.
- Breidinger, 21, made her debut at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday in Florida.
- She will participate with the racing team Young’s Motorsports.
Toni Breidinger will become the first Arab American female driver to participate in a NASCAR national series.
NASCAR announced her historic feat in a press release on February 4 – just nine days before she made her debut at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.
Breidinger, 21, will race in the 2021 stock car competition ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series.
“Daytona is going to be the biggest race of my career, but I’m ready for it,’ Breidinger, who will compete with Young’s Motorsports, told NASCAR.
“It’s going to be a competitive race, but I know that the Young’s Motorsports team will prepare me a fast race car and we can contend for a top-10 finish. That is our goal, a top-10 finish,” she said.
On Saturday, the driver shared photos of preparing for the national series on Instagram.
"I'm honored and excited to be the first, but i don't want to be the last," Breidinger told CNN. "I hope I can pave the way for future female Arab drivers as well."
Breidinger added that "when the helmet comes on and I'm racing, it's not about being a female driver anymore. I'm just like anyone else trying to get to the finish line."
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Breidinger, who fell in love with racing at a young age, is a record 19-time female United States Auto Club winner.
She will drive Young Motorsports' No.2 Chevrolet SS car during the ARCA Menards series and the No.82 Chevrolet Silverado during the Camping World Truck series.