HAILIE DEEGAN Shows Steady Progress As Only Woman Left in Indy NXT Field

May 12, 2025

by Geetansh Pasricha // from www.sportskeeda.com

• HAILIE DEEGAN is making steady progress in her rookie Indy NXT season after switching from NASCAR, with data showing her lap time percentages improving each race weekend. The 23-year-old HMD Motorsports driver finished 17th and 18th in the IMS doubleheader and admits she’s “racing myself a whole lot” while focusing on pace development rather than positioning.
• The physical demands of open-wheel racing initially caught DEEGAN off guard – her right forearm swelled after the St. Petersburg opener due to the lack of power steering compared to stock cars. She’s since ramped up her gym routine and says the physical challenges no longer distract from her primary goal of closing the speed gap to competitors.
• DEEGAN now carries the torch as the only woman in Indy NXT after SOPHIA FLOERSCH departed HMD Motorsports, highlighting the ongoing challenge of female representation in junior open-wheel series. While expectations remain measured for her rookie campaign, her methodical approach to improvement suggests the learning curve is heading in the right direction.

hmd motorsports, indianapolis motor speedway, indy nxt, open-wheel racing