HAILIE DEEGAN Makes Indy NXT Debut as Father Fires Back at Deep Pockets Critics

April 4, 2025

by Pranay Bhagi // from www.sportskeeda.com

• HAILIE DEEGAN made her Indy NXT debut at St. Petersburg, qualifying last but climbing to P14 – not bad for someone getting her first taste of street course racing. While dad Brian faced down the usual “rich kid” accusations on a podcast, she was out there proving that talent still matters when the green flag drops.
• The family money conversation is tired, but Brian’s response hits different: he earned his stripes breaking bones in motocross when there was no social media safety net, then parlayed that into sponsorship gold. His kids are following the same grind-first formula, just with better starting equipment – which, let’s be honest, is how generational success works in every sport.
• Meanwhile, SOPHIA FLOERSCH got the boot from HMD after just one race despite finishing P12 to HAILIE’s P14, citing “contractual obligations not being met.” That’s motorsports code for something went sideways behind the scenes, leaving us with questions about what really happened to the German driver’s supposedly secured ride.

hmd motorsports, indy nxt, monster energy, st. petersburg