Toyota Racing signs Jade Avedisian to driver development program

It’s official! Toyota Racing has signed the young and talented Jade Avedisian to their driver development program where she will hone her skills. In recent years, Avedisian has impressed in the Xtreme Outlaw Midget series. Could she be on a NASCAR path?

Recently this year, Jade Avedisian became the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets Champion. She is the first-ever female national series Midget champion. It’s just one example in a long list of accomplishments for the 17-year-old driver.

Now, Toyota Racing has locked her down for its driver development program. She had been driving with Toyota previously, but this is the next step up for Avedisian in their driver pipeline.

It’s official. I’m honored to continue my motorsports career with Toyota Racing and their driver development program in the years ahead. Let’s go places! #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/bcy24UDlFv

— Jade Avedisian (@jadeavedisian) November 17, 2023

Folks, you’re going to see a lot of Jade Avedisian in the future. Toyota Racing has her lined up to race the full Toyota GR Cup schedule in addition to USAC and Xtreme Outlaw national midget races in 2024. It could be a big season for Avedisian.

This is another example of Toyota Racing getting in early on these young drivers. While they tend to lose drivers here and there, Kyle Larson is a big miss for sure, they also come out with a lot of talent through the process.

Jade Avedisian signs with Toyota Racing

Toyota Racing has also shown a dedication to female racers. In recent years, there has been a push to put more resources towards some of these athletes like Tony Breidinger for example. It isn’t just the Jesse Love (who is signed with RCR and Chevy for 2024) and the William Sawlich-type drivers that Toyota signs.

Drivers like Breidinger, Amber Balcaen, Regina Sirvent, Isabella Robusto, Taylor Reimer, and more have signed with Toyota in recent years.

As far as stock cars go, there’s a little bit of room for moving up at Toyota. However, it does feel that the manufacturer runs into trouble at the top of NASCAR. There just aren’t enough spots for their drivers.

While Toyota Racing will expand in the Cup Series this season from six to eight cars, it isn’t a surprise some drivers, like Love, decide to go elsewhere. Things seem a bit crowded up at the top, but for now, drivers like Jade Avedisian just need to worry about getting better each day and working on their craft.