STATESVILLE, N.C. — GMS Racing announced Wednesday that Toni Breidinger will join the organization for a limited number of late model races this season.
The 19-year-old Hillsborough, Calif., native will drive the No. 21 Chevrolet and is the first female driver to compete for GMS. She is also slated to become a member of the Drivers Edge Development class of 2020.
Breidinger, USAC’s all-time winningest female driver with 19 pavement victories, made her ARCA Racing Series debut last year, posting one top-10 finish in three starts. She began her career behind the wheel of a go-kart at the age of nine before moving into the USAC midget ranks.
In 2014 and 2015, she placed second overall in USAC’s Speed2 Western U.S. Pavement Midget Series driver standings. She went on to claim the 2016 Speed2 Western U.S. Pavement Midget Series championship.
“I’m very excited to join GMS Racing,” Breidinger said. “They’re a contender in every series they compete in, so I know I have a great team behind me. This opportunity will allow me to continue my transition to stock cars and develop my driving skills even more. To have the resources of GMS Racing behind me will help speed up my learning curve and give me the best opportunity to succeed.”
“Chevrolet brought Toni’s talent to our attention,” said GMS Racing president Mike Beam. “She has been moving from open-wheel cars to stock cars with a few ARCA races last year. We want to give her the opportunity to gain more stock car experience by joining our late model team and becoming a member of the Drivers Edge Development program next year.”
Breidinger’s first race with GMS will be April 13 at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C., with the PRA Super Late Model Series. She will compete in several PRA and CARS Tour events throughout the season.