HAILIE DEEGAN Takes Veiled Swipe at Former NASCAR Team After Moving to IndyCar

March 2, 2025

by Diogo Mota // from motociclismo.pt

• HAILIE DEEGAN didn’t mince words when praising her new HMD Motorsports team for their professionalism and having “their stuff together” – a pointed contrast to her messy exit from AM Racing during her 2024 Xfinity Series debut. The subtext was crystal clear: her former NASCAR team fell short of basic professional standards, complete with multiple crew chief changes and internal drama that derailed what should have been her breakthrough season.
• The move to INDY NXT represents more than just a series change for DEEGAN – it’s a complete reset with a team that actually invests in data analysis and structured development rather than throwing drivers into chaos. While her first practice session at St. Petersburg ended dead last, significantly off the pace, she now has access to experienced teammates and proper support systems that were clearly missing during her winless NASCAR campaign.
• DEEGAN’s transition challenges mirror the broader issue we see constantly: talented drivers getting written off because they landed with unprofessional operations first. Her acknowledgment that excitement “quickly gave way to disappointment” at AM Racing tells the real story – this wasn’t about her capabilities, it was about being set up to fail by a team that couldn’t provide the foundation she needed to succeed in NASCAR’s competitive landscape.

am racing, hmd motorsports, indy nxt, st. petersburg