HAILIE DEEGAN Finishes Dead Last in First Indy NXT Practice at St. Pete

March 1, 2025

• HAILIE DEEGAN’s transition from NASCAR to Indy NXT hit some serious turbulence in her debut practice session at St. Petersburg, where she finished dead last – 4.5 seconds off the pace and 7 mph slower than leader Dennis Hauger. After being dropped mid-season by AM Racing from Xfinity, she’s now tackling open-wheel racing with HMD Motorsports, but admits these cars are “hard to drive” compared to stock cars.
• The physical demands are proving to be a reality check for DEEGAN, who candidly acknowledged that NASCAR was “one of the most unphysical forms of racing” while Indy NXT requires serious fitness commitment. She’s had to completely overhaul her workout routine and deal with comfort issues like her hands being too small for the steering wheel – the kind of practical challenges that highlight how different this racing discipline really is.
• With just three days of testing under her belt before her series debut, DEEGAN faces a steep learning curve in what amounts to a career reboot at 23. Her honesty about the struggle is refreshing in a sport where drivers often downplay difficulties, and she seems genuinely excited about having “a purpose” for her training regimen as she prepares for 14 races this season starting with Sunday’s St. Petersburg race.

hmd motorsports, indy nxt series, open-wheel racing, st. petersburg grand prix