The lone full-time female driver in NASCAR, Toni Breidinger, has spoken out boldly against the gender gap in the sport. Going on the Spake Up Podcast, she called the current state of the motorsport “disappointing.” She went on to say about female drivers, “there should be more every year.”
Charles Leclerc has been mercilessly mocked after crashing.
But the reality is there have been scarcely any women competing in NASCAR. The logical conclusion that’s assumed by Breidinger and the host of the podcast she’s on is that’s evidence that women are being actively kept out.
Is that the reality? To be rather blunt, Breidinger is currently ranked 22 in the Craftsman Truck Series. For comparison, Hollywood actor turned racecar driver Frankie Muniz sits at 25, just behind her, and he’s complained openly about not getting respect from his fellow drivers.
But to hear Breidinger talk, one would assume Muniz is far more respected than her. We genuinely have trouble believing that.
If you’ve never heard of her before, well you’re not alone. But a lot of people have on social media, not because of Breidinger’s racing skills but instead because of the rather provocative photos of herself she likes to post.
Boasting an Instagram following of 3 million, she’s been rather open about how selling her body to men online has helped fund her motorsports career. Everyone can have their own opinion about that, but here’s an inconvenient truth: men won’t make money doing the exact same thing, or at least not very much.
Image via ToniBreidinger/X
What about the gender gap there? Is that not also unfair, based on the same logic?
We respect good female racers, but we also know most women aren’t interested in racing professionally. Actually, most men aren’t, either. But out of those people who are, they’re overwhelming male.
While we don’t doubt Breidinger has struggled to get sponsors and finance her racing career, if she bothered getting to know her male colleagues she’d learn they’ve struggled as well. Racing is expensive, which is why it’s often kids from more affluent backgrounds who excel at it.
Real racers find a way to win instead of whining. Breidinger and Muniz could both learn that lesson.
Images via ToniBreidinger/X