HAILIE DEEGAN Battles ‘Head Ripper’ Issue in First Indy NXT Oval Test

April 5, 2025

by Yash Kotak // from www.sportskeeda.com

• HAILIE DEEGAN tackled her first Indy NXT oval test at Nashville Superspeedway, dealing with a bizarre helmet issue that veteran drivers warned her about. The airflow at 190 mph created a dangerous situation where her helmet tried to strangle her, forcing multiple pit stops to adjust her seating position and gear setup.
• Despite the equipment challenges, DEEGAN showed real progress throughout the day, finishing 15th out of 19 drivers – a significant improvement from her struggles during preseason testing and the St. Petersburg opener. Her final lap time of 25.9388 seconds came after she found the courage to hold the throttle wide open through the sketchy bump in turns 3 and 4.
• The breakthrough moment came when DEEGAN locked her left foot behind her right on the throttle, finding those crucial two-tenths that dropped her from the 26-second range into the 25s. She called her HMD Motorsports car the “best-turning car” she’s had at Nashville and heads to Alabama in May with renewed confidence after proving she belongs on ovals.

hmd motorsports, indy nxt, nashville superspeedway, oval racing