Hailie Deegan has announced her departure from NASCAR to pursue a career in open-wheel racing, joining HMD Motorsports for the upcoming Indy NXT season. The decision comes after a challenging year competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing. Her move has sparked ⁷ reactions, including commentary from former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick.
Deegan’s NASCAR journey has been turbulent. She entered the sport through Toyota’s driver development program, a promising start that shifted in 2020 when she transitioned to Ford. This change ultimately defined her NASCAR career but not in the way she had hoped. Competing in the NASCAR Truck Series with DGR-Crosley, she faced consistent struggles, finishing no better than 17th in her time there. Her rookie season in the Xfinity Series this year also failed to deliver significant results, as she consistently fell short of top-ten finishes. Following her underwhelming performance, she parted ways with AM Racing.
Kevin Harvick addressed Deegan’s career trajectory on his podcast, Harvick Happy Hour. He suggested her switch from Toyota to Ford marked a pivotal downturn in her NASCAR career. Harvick stated, “The moment she stepped out of that Toyota program was the turning point. Once she left that system and entered her situation with Ford, things spiraled in the wrong direction.” His perspective reflects both criticism of her career decisions and the challenges she faced in navigating NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
As Deegan prepares to embark on a new chapter in Indy NXT, her decision marks a significant shift in her motorsport career.
