HAILIE DEEGAN’s Open-Wheel Gamble Finally Clicks at Nashville Season Finale

August 31, 2025

by Aadesh D // from www.essentiallysports.com

GRRL! musings:

This and the next article are posted here on purpose. This article is very matter-of-fact: Hailie’s having more of a challenge than she expected. The transition from NASCAR and dirt to pavement and open wheel is hard. Hailie acknowledges that.

But the next article slams her as being a complete failure that should give up the sport. Two takes on the exact same set of circumstances. Seems one take has an agenda…

GRRL! SUMMARY:

HAILIE DEEGAN’s bold transition from NASCAR Xfinity to Indy NXT has been a masterclass in rebuilding from scratch. After her stock car career stalled with AM Racing, she took the risky leap to open-wheel racing with HMD Motorsports. The move demanded learning entirely new physics – from heavy stock cars to precision open-wheel machines requiring different strength, technique, and tire management. Her candid admission that “it’s so hard to get comfortable in a new car” reveals the reality behind career pivots that most drivers never attempt mid-stream.
The numbers tell the story of a steep learning curve that’s finally showing returns. Currently 17th in Indy NXT standings, DEEGAN’s season has been marked by flashes rather than consistency – highlighted by an 11th-place finish at Laguna Seca. But her P10 qualifying performance at Nashville’s season finale, matching her career-best with a 181.962 mph average, suggests the pieces are clicking. That oval performance came at the perfect moment, as she openly admits feeling more comfortable on ovals versus road courses in these dramatically different machines.
The contrast between her turbulent NASCAR exit and current team environment couldn’t be sharper. DEEGAN calls HMD Motorsports “the most family-friendly team I’ve ever met” and praises her engineer’s expertise with Indy NXT drivers. This stability matters as HMD plans to reduce their full-time entries to four cars in 2026, making opportunities scarcer. With sponsorship negotiations just beginning for her future and only a three-year deal providing limited security, performances like Nashville become crucial statements that she’s mastering this new discipline when it counts most.