HAILIE DEEGAN Makes Bold Jump from NASCAR to INDY NXT with Oval Test Debut

April 1, 2025

• HAILIE DEEGAN completed her first official INDY NXT oval test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, marking a dramatic career shift from NASCAR stock cars to open-wheel racing. Partnered with HMD Motorsports and backed by longtime sponsor Monster Energy, the 23-year-old is tackling the physically demanding transition with characteristic transparency about the challenges ahead.
• The move represents more than just switching series—it’s a complete discipline change requiring new physical conditioning and driving techniques. Without power steering and in an open cockpit, DEEGAN has ramped up upper-body training while adapting her aggressive driving style to lighter, faster machinery that demands precision over raw aggression.
• Monster Energy’s continued backing through this transition speaks to DEEGAN’s crossover appeal and marketability across different racing disciplines. Having already broken barriers as the first woman to win in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, she’s now entering INDY NXT’s proving grounds where careers are made or broken on the ladder to IndyCar.

hmd motorsports, indianapolis motor speedway, indy nxt, monster energy