23-year-old driver Hailie Deegan, known for her aggressiveness on the track, is making a shocking career move to open-wheel racing in Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports. The move comes after she was abruptly dropped from the NASCAR AM Motorsports lineup halfway through the Xfinity Series Season. She moved to the second-tier series in 2023 and continued to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series for David Gilliland Racing.
Her last race with the truck series was in November. Deegan would run 18 races over two years in Xfinity until veteran series winner Joey Logano replaced her in July. Hailie Deegan started karting at eight years old in short-course off-road racing and won her first championship in the SXS Stadium Series Trophy Kart Class.
Hailie Deegan’s NASCAR Record
Considered the “Next Big Thing in Racing,” Hailie Deegan has experienced several pitfalls during her three-year stock car racing career with NASCAR. During her time with NASCAR, she was active in the Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Series. Since her start with the NASCAR Craftsman Series, the California native has had her eye on moving to the Xfinity Series in 2022. However, there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding her debut in the series with AM Racing.
It’s suspected that the team didn’t have the resources to help Hailie Deegan match her full potential as a young driver. Her lack of experience also contributed to a disappointing run. During her run with the Xfinity Series, Hailie Deegan didn’t accumulate a single win, top ten, or pole, and her best finish was 93rd in 2022. So there’s no question that this hurt her ability to continue racing in the NASCAR franchise.
However, Hailie Deegan is far from a run-of-the-mill driver. She has had quite a career as a stock car driver racing with Bill McAnally Racing in the K & N Pro West Series. While with the NASCAR-sanctioned entity, she secured three total wins from 2018 to 2020. The win was also historic as she became the first female to win the series. There’s no doubting Deegan’s skills, but unfortunately, she didn’t get a chance to show off her talent at Xfinity as she’d initially hoped.
What the Move to Indy NXT Means
Hailie Deegan’s shocking career move to Indy NXT from NASCAR will surely bring challenges, but it’s one the rising star welcomes. Her plans to move into open-wheel racing have always been in her mind. It’s one she’s been very upfront about, mentioning that during her time as an SRX Series driver.
Her SRX journey began in 2023, and during that time, she got to meet some of IndyCar’s greats. Meeting Indy’s greats sparked her interest in pursuing that side of racing, a move she didn’t think she’d make for a while. Still, the move might end up being the best one of Hailie Deegan’s career and give her the push she needs to become better aligned as a driver in the sport of racing.
She couldn’t accomplish this during her time as a driver for the NASCAR franchise. The window of opportunity for Deegan is wide open, and she still has a long way to go, but she’ll undoubtedly rise to the challenge. “This year I took the opportunity to hop into the F3 car,” Deegan stated, “And it was one of the coolest experiences I fell in love with.” Fans are also optimistic and still quite shocked after learning about the switch-up when Deegan tested behind the wheel of an F3 over the summer.
Deegan noted this as one of the most remarkable experiences she’s had as a driver. She then fell in love with the idea of piloting an open-wheel vehicle. The desire to pursue open-wheel led her to participate in several races and meet with several teams. Shortly thereafter, she revealed she negotiated a multi-year contract with HMD Motorsports for 2025. She will pilot the No. 38 car at her March Indy NXT Debut in the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Final Thoughts
If Hailie Deegan had the appropriate resources offered by AM Racing, met owner Tim Self’s high-performance expectations, hadn’t experienced repetitive mechanical issues, and scored above her 26.82, she could’ve taken the opportunity to new heights. Hopefully, the move to Indy NXT will give her a chance to redeem herself, and she’ll be thrilled. Though many are questioning her career change, she’s confident she’ll make it work, given her experience.
She announced her split from AM Racing, mentioning that the goals between the two parties were no longer aligned. She insinuated her ousting from the team wasn’t entirely her fault via the social media platform X in July. The announcement resulted in tension between Deegan and team owners, leaving a possible NASCAR return in the future hanging in the balance. Still, hopefully, she’ll be able to redeem herself on the track come March. Maybe she’ll even become the next Danica Patrick.
For More Great Content
Craving top-tier content that covers it all? From electrifying sports highlights and insider entertainment news to expert gaming tips and sharp betting advice, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our curated articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the lowdown on gaming strategies that could level up your play.
Plus, our betting advice will sharpen your edge and boost your chances of winning big. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, our content is your go-to source for all things exciting and relevant. Don’t miss out–explore now and power up your knowledge! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports, to stay informed.
