Arab American Woman debuts in NASCAR

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Toni Breidinger says that when she sat behind the wheel of a go-kart at age 9, she knew she would become a race car driver. Twelve years later, Breidinger has become the first Arab American female driver to participate in a NASCAR national series, according to NASCAR.

Posted by sitzkrieg at 02:10 PM | 59 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

The 21-year-old joined the racing team Young's Motorsports to race in the 2021 stock car competition ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR's pick-up truck competition, Camping World Truck Series, which begins with the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida on Saturday.

Comments

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Hijab? Or no?

#1 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2021-02-21 08:20 PM | Reply

Legal,

She is Arab, not necessarily Muslim.

People have this strange way of confusing the two.

Btw...Arabs are technically caucasian.

#2 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-21 09:39 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Legal,

Actually it looks like race classifications are changing.

And males can give birth, I've also read.

I would love to see a few books written 50 years from now.

#3 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-21 09:58 PM | Reply

I always thought NASCAR died at Daytona in 2001. Is it still a thing? Last I looked it was turning into wrasslin' with wheels.

#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2021-02-21 10:05 PM | Reply

Race car drivers are all racists. Literally.

#5 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-21 10:19 PM | Reply | Funny: 2

She is Arab, not necessarily Muslim.

She was born in California, so good bet she's American.

#6 | Posted by REDIAL at 2021-02-21 10:27 PM | Reply

Toni Breidinger, come on Redial, you don't get more Arab than that.

#7 | Posted by bruceaz at 2021-02-21 11:29 PM | Reply

Well she changed it from Al-Breidinger, so there 's that.

#8 | Posted by REDIAL at 2021-02-21 11:38 PM | Reply

Redial,

"She was born in California, so good bet she's American."

"American" isn't a race but I'm starting to think "Californian" might be.

#9 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-22 07:31 AM | Reply

This is going to piss off the "necks", LOL. I wish her well.
Nice to see childhood dreams come true.

#10 | Posted by a_monson at 2021-02-22 02:49 PM | Reply

An Arab Woman in Nascar? Does she have to drive 10 paces behind the male drivers?

#11 | Posted by moder8 at 2021-02-22 02:51 PM | Reply

Mod,

She's Arab American..not Muslim.

You're a liberal and they say conservatives are the racist ones!

#12 | Posted by Billjohnson at 2021-02-22 04:35 PM | Reply

Islam isn't a race. But it still makes sense to think of Islamophobia as racism.

Now that a ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries is a reality, this criticism of his administration has deepened. It's a rallying cry for activists and a concern of critics for whom the policy flies in the face of what they would like to think are modern American values.

But supporters of the executive order resist the application of the "r-word" here, saying that even if the order did explicitly target Muslims, that still wouldn't be racist. After all, they argue, Islam is a religion, not a race. Muslims include people from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds " including many from countries affected by the ban whose national origins would fall under the "white" category on the current US Census if they were allowed in.

To understand why, despite all this, it makes sense to talk about anti-Muslim bigotry--both as expressed by the Trump administration and in general--as a kind of racism, you need to know about the roots of Islamophobia, and about how racial categories can shift with the political winds.

www.vox.com

#13 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2021-02-22 04:44 PM | Reply

You're a liberal and they say conservatives are the racist ones!

You mentioned Muslims in your first post. Why?

#14 | Posted by REDIAL at 2021-02-22 04:54 PM | Reply

Redial,

"You mentioned Muslims in your first post. Why?"

Legal asked if she would wear a hijab.

I responded saying she is Arab...not Muslim.

The problem is people are so used to calling people who distrust Islam a "racist", they're totally confused between the difference between an Arab and a Muslim.

Muslim is a religion...not a race.

You joked about 10 paces back....again....just because she's Arab American doesn't make her Muslim.

She might be but there's no of knowing from this article but who cares anyway?

Are the other drivers listing their religions?

My point is making jabs at her being "Arab" can be construed as racist.

#15 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-22 05:54 PM | Reply

Gal,

"But it still makes sense to think of Islamophobia as racism."

Yea...and you probably think males can give birth too.

Liberals...up is down...down is up...whatever.

#16 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-22 05:56 PM | Reply

Her car painted "Roman Empire" is interesting.

I know it's the name of who owns the car but it's still interesting.

#17 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-22 05:59 PM | Reply

From the Vox article linked to above:

With these constant changes, it's hard to make the case that the concept of race is anywhere near stable or to see the current census categories as the decisive factor in whether anti-Muslim attitudes are racist or not.

Alhassen has researched how people from the Middle East and North Africa ended up under the "white" category in the first place. Long story short: The 1790 Naturalization Act gave naturalization to free whites. So the way people argued for citizenship or eligibility for citizenship was to prove their whiteness. Some cases went all the way up to the Supreme Court and set the standard. One argument--known as the "cradle of civilization" argument--was that people who came from the region where Christianity and Western civilization originated should be deemed white. It worked.

#18 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2021-02-22 06:01 PM | Reply

Gal,

"But it still makes sense to think of Islamophobia as racism."

In America race is treated as a protected class.

Religion is not.

If you are going to extend special protections for one religion, why not all?

Personally, I suspect liberals want to treat Islam as a race because they have something in common with Islam.

Most of each of them have a strong dislike of main stream Christianity so they want to see Islam treated as a protected class while most liberals and Muslims would prefer evangelical Christianity be shut out from the open forum.

Birds of a feather...so to speak.

#19 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-23 02:04 PM | Reply

I stand corrected. Religion is a protected class.

#20 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-23 02:05 PM | Reply

I still believe I hear so many liberals defend Islam and attack Christianity because they are allies against Christianity.

#21 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-23 02:08 PM | Reply

Got any examples?

Or is this just a thing you believe, but don't have any examples of, like voting by mail being insecure?

#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2021-02-23 02:10 PM | Reply

"If you are going to extend special protections for one religion, why not all?"

^
This is the M.O. of the Church of Satan.

#23 | Posted by snoofy at 2021-02-23 02:11 PM | Reply

Islamophobia as racism.

I'm not sure this works.

Much like Christophobia wouldn't be considered racism.

Too many people from different races adhere to the practice of these religions.

It's definitely discrimination to hate someone because of their religion.

I think the only religion that gets to claim protection from racism is Judaism.

#24 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:13 PM | Reply

On the other hand.

Beating up Middle Easterners, because you assume all Middle Easterners are Islamic.

Is racist.

#25 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:15 PM | Reply

And ignorant.

#26 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:15 PM | Reply

Snoofy,

Yea...just my opinion.

If I say "personally" I am saying this is how I am perceiving things.

#27 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2021-02-23 02:16 PM | Reply

www.vox.com
#13 | POSTED BY GAL_TUESDAY

"People who are "white" now might not be later"

It seems like we're heading towards and endpoint where the only people who are actually classified as white will be albinos who are hunted down by red-headed cannibals.

#28 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 02:19 PM | Reply

you probably think males can give birth too.

It's so funny reading conservatives freak out about pronouns and gender identification.

Like it matters to them in the slightest what someone else wants to be called.

Tell us Bill. If a person who identifies as a man, gives birth, what difference does it make to you?

None.

But hey. Keep telling us how close minded your worldview is.

#29 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:21 PM | Reply

I still believe I hear so many liberals defend Islam and attack Christianity because they are allies against Christianity.
#21 | POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON

How many is "so many"?

#30 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2021-02-23 02:30 PM | Reply

"I think the only religion that gets to claim protection from racism is Judaism."

Jewish people are neither a specific race nor a specific ethnicity.

#31 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 02:32 PM | Reply

I still believe I hear so many liberals defend Islam and attack Christianity because they are allies against Christianity.
#21 | POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON

You believe a lot of things that are proven to be false.

Yet you continue to believe.

Because it reinforces your close minded worldview.

Here's some shocking news for you.

The majority of Americans are Christians. Including the majority of liberals and moderates.

But. Democrats have more members from other religions/non religious as well.

Which pisses off conservatives. So they claim it's because Democrats hate Christianity. Albeit without proof.

Which. Seems to be fine. You dumbfffks don't need proof in order to believe what you're told.

Bunch of brain dead pawns.

#32 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:36 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#31 | POSTED BY SWASTIKA REFORM BOY

Jews (Hebrew: '""'" ISO 259-2 Yehudim, Israeli pronunciation [jehudim]) or Jewish people are members of an ethnoreligious group[10] and a nation[11][12] originating from the Israelites[13][14][15] and Hebrews[16][17] of historical Israel and Judah. Jewish ethnicity, nationhood, and religion are strongly interrelated,[18][19] as Judaism is the ethnic religion of the Jewish people, while its observance varies from strict observance to complete nonobservance.[20]

en.m.wikipedia.org

Why you hate Jews so much, I'll never know.

Probably some deeply repressed memory.

#33 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:39 PM | Reply

#33 | POSTED BY INDIAN HATER

Whoops...

upload.wikimedia.org

Thanks for the projection.

#34 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 02:44 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Thanks for the projection.
#34 | POSTED BY SWASTIKA REFORM BOY

The only thing you project is hate for Jews.

#35 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:47 PM | Reply

NASCAR? If you desire to observe just how deep intolerant chauvinism runs in auto racing across the entire ethnic/religious/racial spectrum, give her a seat in a F1 car should she possess the actual skill to drive it. The apoplexy would be off the charts.

#36 | Posted by dutch46 at 2021-02-23 02:48 PM | Reply

give her a seat in a F1

Or a horse at the Kentucky Derby.

#37 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 02:49 PM | Reply

#35 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

Thanks for proving my point, ------. Pathetic creeps like you are why this place sucks.

#38 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 02:53 PM | Reply

How about a seat in the House of Representatives? Stay on topic, please. I would prefer to keep this framed in terms of the young woman's affect on auto racing, if you don't mind.

#39 | Posted by dutch46 at 2021-02-23 02:56 PM | Reply

"I would prefer to keep this framed in terms of the young woman's affect on auto racing"

Are you sure about that?

#40 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 03:06 PM | Reply

That was not proffered in your direction, sir.

#41 | Posted by dutch46 at 2021-02-23 03:13 PM | Reply

Pathetic creeps like you are why this place sucks.
#38 | POSTED BY SENTINEL

No one is forcing you to come here.

Or to stay.

#42 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 03:16 PM | Reply

I would prefer to keep this framed in terms of the young woman's affect on auto racing

Danica Patrick broke into nascar.

But yea. I don't disagree.

A lot of sports and events are male only.

Conservatives prefer it this way.

#43 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 03:20 PM | Reply

#42, I'm well aware of that. I'm not under any illusions about this place, or its inhabitants. I made a perfectly reasonable statement in #31 and you responded with pure abuse. Oh well. It's says everything about you and nothing about me.

#44 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 03:27 PM | Reply

Snoofy,
Yea...just my opinion.
If I say "personally" I am saying this is how I am perceiving things.
#27 | POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON

Your opinions on factual matters should really be grounded in fact.
Otherwise you're just believing what you want to believe because you want to.
That's immoral.

#45 | Posted by snoofy at 2021-02-23 03:33 PM | Reply

Poor persecuted Christians. How many times have those same Christians persecuted others just for being who they are? Spare me your faux outrage BillJohnson.

#46 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2021-02-23 03:42 PM | Reply

#44

What is Judaism anyway?
It's a religion, yes - but then again, many who identify as Jews aren't religious.

It's passed down from parents to children and bears recognizable genetic characteristics - but then again, Jews come in all colors and racial backgrounds.

Ethnicity? Nationality? Faith? Culture? Heritage? Even Jews don't agree on just what Judaism is.

www.washingtonpost.com

Jewish people are protected as a group from anti Semitism. Generally considered to be a form of racism.

#47 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 03:53 PM | Reply

"Generally considered to be a form of racism."

In order for this to be true, one has to accept the pseudo-race science propagated by the person who coined the term "anti-Semitism". I do not. Do you?

#48 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 05:59 PM | Reply

I'm done with this conversation.

You've lead me down a weird rabbit hole.

I stand by my original statement.

"I think the only religion that gets to claim protection from racism is Judaism."

There are antisemitism laws created to protect people of the Jewish faith.

While all religions are protected from discrimination. Anti Semitic laws were created to specifically protect Jewish people who deserved additional protection.

#49 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 06:13 PM | Reply

That's nonsense.
Anti-semitism has existed a lot longer than the term "anti-semitism" has appeared in the literature.

#50 | Posted by snoofy at 2021-02-23 06:13 PM | Reply

"While all religions are protected from discrimination. Anti Semitic laws were created to specifically protect Jewish people who deserved additional protection."

Don't expect people to choose to understand that you don't need guardrails everywhere, just where it's known to be more dangerous.
Their concept of equal justice demands we install guardrails everywhere, equally, with willful ignorance to actual need.

#51 | Posted by snoofy at 2021-02-23 06:18 PM | Reply

"You've lead me down a weird rabbit hole."

Let me guess, you didn't know before today where the term "anti-Semitism" actually came from, did you? Which begs the question, why are we even still using this term in society?

We can still outlaw bigoted behavior against Jewish people based on religion (or perceived religion), just like we can outlaw bigoted behavior against Muslims or any other religious group for the same.

#52 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 06:30 PM | Reply

"why are we even still using this term in society?"

Because Jews still get persecuted just for being Jews.

#53 | Posted by snoofy at 2021-02-23 06:36 PM | Reply

Hey Sentinel.

Considering who invented the term Capitalism, should we stop using it?

#54 | Posted by snoofy at 2021-02-23 06:47 PM | Reply

Let me guess, you didn't know before today where the term "anti-Semitism" actually came from, did you?

Has nothing to do with me and more to do with your obsession.

Good luck, Swastika reform boy.

#55 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 07:19 PM | Reply

#55- Thanks for the good luck, even though you probably meant it as sarcasm while lashing out in anger and fear. You don't know me. You're projecting things onto me the same way "anti-Semites" project things onto others. Irony level 100.

I wish you good luck as well, in a non-sarcastic way, and I hope some lucky swastikas come into your life!

#56 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-23 08:35 PM | Reply

You don't know me.

Only based on your post.

You fear of Roman helmets and love for swastikas

Which seems to mirror what everyone else knows about you.

#57 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 10:07 PM | Reply

you probably meant it as sarcasm

Nah.

Not really.

Empty sentiment.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

#58 | Posted by ClownShack at 2021-02-23 10:10 PM | Reply

I can understand why you dodged the questions posed in #48 and #52. It must be awfully awkward for you. So much easier to resort to petty ad homs than to engage in debate honestly.

#59 | Posted by sentinel at 2021-02-24 05:15 AM | Reply