Hailie Deegan’s sudden exit from AM Racing last week has sparked questions about the pivotal moment that altered the trajectory of her young racing career. Deegan’s time in the 2024 Xfinity Series was marred by difficulties rather than triumphs; she failed to achieve any top-five or top-10 finishes and was ranked 28th with only 174 points when she departed. This was a stark contrast to her earlier performances in the Truck Series, where she had more success, including one top-five and six top-10 finishes over three seasons.
The split with AM Racing has raised concerns about Deegan’s career path, which began under Toyota’s development program in 2017. She transitioned to Ford in 2019, a move that has been heavily criticized by NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick. On his show “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,” he remarked, as quoted by Fox Sports:
“The big mistake here was getting out of the Toyota development system. I think Ford has the worst development program as far as their drivers go. I think Toyota has the best, and I think Chevy’s somewhere in the middle.”
Harvick emphasized that Toyota’s program, with its ample resources and patient development approach, would have been more beneficial for Deegan. He believed she needed more time in the Truck Series to receive the necessary guidance and mentorship to evolve into a successful NASCAR driver.
“She carries this fan base off the racetrack that’s a big fan base, and I think that she just got pushed through too fast and wound up in the wrong development system for her to be successful.”
Before her NASCAR career, Deegan showed great promise in the ARCA Menards Series West, where she secured three wins between 2018 and 2019 and earned the Rookie of the Year Award in the 2020 ARCA Menards Series with four top-five finishes and 17 top-10 finishes. These early accomplishments set high expectations for her transition to higher levels of racing.
Harvick further reiterated, “I think the moment that she stepped outside of that Toyota development system was a bad move. … I think it’s going to be tough to get another chance. That’s going to be the hard part.”
Deegan’s abrupt departure from AM Racing and the subsequent scrutiny over her career decisions highlight the challenges and complexities young drivers face in the highly competitive world of NASCAR. With her early potential and significant fan base, the focus now shifts to whether she can navigate these obstacles and secure another opportunity to prove herself in the sport.
