Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that Hailee Deegan would make the switch from stock cars to open-wheel driving, piloting the #38 HMD Motorsports entry full-time next season.
For Deegan, it had been a tumultuous few seasons in the Truck and Xfinity Series, finishing inside the Top 10 only five times between both series.
While Deegan has the talent and the brand that has got her the opportunities that she has earned, their has been something their that has made each stop not go the way many have thought.
Whether it be a confidence problem or a matter of the wrong fit, Deegan just wasn’t able to fulfil on the potential that she had when she first stepped into a full-season Truck Series ride.
In the Truck Series, there is no denying that the 23-year-old had everything in line for a chance at a playoff berth. Between running with both David Gilliand Racing and ThorSport Racing, Hailie Deegan had the truck behind her to give her success but unfortunately it did not turn out that way.
The move to IndyNXT is rather a perplexing one, but there may be a chance for Deegan to take over the series and maybe make a name for herself in IndyCar’s developmental series.
Breath of Fresh Air?
IndyNXT is an intriguing series for Hailie Deegan to jump into.
Obviously it is known for being the proving ground prior to the NTT IndyCar Series, but there are some similarities with this series and ARCA.
IndyNXT was ran this year by Andretti Global with Louis Foster taking home the championship trophy but if Nolan Siegel would have stuck around in IndyNXT, there is no telling how the season could have gone.
HMD Motorsports is no stranger to having success in the series. After a championship season for Christian Rasmussen and a third place finish for Nolan Siegel in 2023, HMD Motorsports has had some of the premier driver lineups within the series.
For Deegan, that is a positive to have a competitive team behind you. However, Much of the series is taken up by entries from HMD and Andretti, making it practically an even playing field. Between both Andretti and HMD, the teams combine for 16 entries within the series.
While some of them are part-time rides, that is still a lot of ground that is covered between the to teams, which makes it tricky to truly predict how Deegan may fair within IndyNXT.
For the former Stockcar driver, it may be the new challenge that she needs, but the switch from a stockcar to open-wheel ride is a complete 180 and it may take some time for her to settle in.
In NASCAR, Deegan felt rushed as she rose through the ranks and hopefully in IndyNXT she can work herself into the series. But it will be a timely process that may have its challenges along the way.
A New Career Path?
As mentioned, Deegan has the brand and the talent to compete in motorsports, its just matter of where is the right fit.
IndyNXT is going to be a new test for her and it will be a learning process, but is this the move is the question?
Its hard to say at this point whether or not she can make a successful career in IndyCar but there is a chance. The big key is how quickly they move up the ladder.
This is a significant shift and learning the ins and outs of the car and the style of racing will be crucial. While you shouldn’t expect a race win right out of the gate, if Deegan can find herself battling in the Top 10, then there is something to be said about her making
The brand that she has can help truly build into one of the more popular drivers within the IndyCar Series if she can move her way on up but it is tough to judge if this move will work out for the long-term for Deegan.
Final Thoughts
There is no denying that Hailie Deegan has the package to make her a successful driver within motorsports.
Between her experience in many backgrounds, her upbringing and her personality, Deegan has the tools to find legitimate success.
It’s just a matter of what series fits her.
Nitrocross seemed like a series of interest given her and her dad’s background in off-road racing, but Nitrocross is still early in its growth.
With IndyCar going into their FOX TV deal next year and the potential for drivers to get more exposure across both series, IndyNXT could be a quietly successful landing sport for Deegan. We just have to see how she performs to get a good idea of if she can fit in the series that is growing in talent.