Hailie Deegan, one of NASCAR’s most high-profile rising stars, is no stranger to controversy. Over the years, Deegan has built a reputation not only for her driving skills but also for her unfiltered comments, both on and off the track. However, her latest remarks about the financial realities of competing in NASCAR have set off a fresh wave of debate — and drawn unexpected comparisons with fellow racer and social media star Toni Breidinger.
In a recent interview, Deegan spoke candidly about the financial burdens that come with trying to make it as a professional driver in NASCAR. She openly admitted that success in the sport is often dictated not just by talent and hard work, but by the ability to secure sponsorships and personal funding. “In NASCAR, it’s no secret — money talks,” Deegan said bluntly. “You could be the best driver out there, but if you can’t bring money to the table, you won’t even get a shot.”
Her comments struck a chord with fans and insiders alike, shedding light on a reality many in the racing world already know but rarely discuss so openly. However, her remarks also sparked fierce backlash, with critics accusing her of using her privileged background and established connections to downplay her own advantages. Some argued that while Deegan may face sponsorship challenges, her access to high-profile teams and brand partnerships far exceeds what many grassroots drivers experience.
This latest controversy also fueled direct comparisons between Deegan and Toni Breidinger, another rising female star in the racing world. Breidinger, known both for her on-track performances and her massive social media following, has also faced scrutiny over her financial backing. Critics often claim that Breidinger’s modeling career and influencer status have given her a financial edge that has helped her secure sponsorship deals others could only dream of.
But Breidinger, like Deegan, has been vocal about the difficulty of securing funding in a male-dominated sport where female drivers are still often seen as risky investments. In fact, Breidinger’s career path highlights a stark contrast to Deegan’s — while Deegan comes from a motorsports family with deep racing roots, Breidinger had to build her platform from scratch, leveraging her Instagram fame to attract sponsors willing to back a female driver.
The comparisons between the two drivers have reignited a larger conversation about the role of money, image, and opportunity in modern motorsports. Both Deegan and Breidinger are undeniably talented, but their approaches to navigating the cutthroat world of NASCAR couldn’t be more different. Deegan’s path has been shaped by family connections, early media exposure, and her positioning as NASCAR’s next breakout female star. Breidinger, meanwhile, has had to carve out her own niche, often blending her racing career with her modeling gigs to keep her sponsorship pipeline flowing.
Critics have questioned whether either driver would have gotten as far without their off-track personas. For Deegan, it’s her bold, edgy personality and willingness to embrace controversy that keeps her in the headlines. For Breidinger, it’s her massive social media reach and influencer clout that allows her to pitch herself as a marketable brand, not just a driver.
But the financial struggles Deegan highlighted are all too real for drivers at every level of NASCAR. Racing has always been an expensive sport, and in recent years, the costs have only skyrocketed. Teams rely heavily on sponsorship dollars to fund everything from cars and crew to travel and equipment. For drivers without wealthy backers or corporate connections, finding that funding can feel like an impossible task — regardless of talent.
That’s why Deegan’s comments struck a nerve with so many. Even though she enjoys far more visibility and financial backing than most of her peers, her willingness to admit how much of her success hinges on money exposed the harsh reality facing every young driver hoping to break into NASCAR’s upper ranks.
For Breidinger, the comparisons are both frustrating and familiar. She has long faced accusations that her influencer status gives her an unfair advantage — a claim she strongly rejects. In her view, leveraging her online presence is no different from any other driver using personal connections or family wealth to advance their careers. In both cases, it’s a matter of survival in a sport where talent alone is rarely enough.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear — both Deegan and Breidinger are navigating the same broken system, albeit from very different starting points. Whether they’re seen as trailblazers or beneficiaries of privilege often depends more on personal bias than reality. But their stories, and the controversies they spark, continue to highlight the uncomfortable truth at the heart of modern NASCAR: in a sport where money equals opportunity, talent is just one small piece of the puzzle.
In the end, Hailie Deegan’s comments may have been blunt, but they weren’t wrong. In NASCAR, money does talk — and until the system changes, that reality will continue to shape who gets a shot at success and who gets left behind, no matter how talented they might be.
