HAILIE DEEGAN’s NASCAR Return Sparks Talk After Rough Indy NXT Rookie Year

September 10, 2025

by Samson Ero // from www.sportskeeda.com

• HAILIE DEEGAN’s bold move to Indy NXT hasn’t delivered the fairy tale ending we hoped for, with zero top-10 finishes in 16 races and a best result of 13th at Nashville. The California native’s rookie season with HMD Motorsports proved that talent doesn’t automatically translate across racing disciplines, even when you’ve got oval experience in your back pocket.
• Now the rumor mill is spinning harder than a car at Talladega, with reports suggesting DEEGAN could return to NASCAR after just one year away. The timing makes sense – silly season is here, her IndyCar campaign wrapped up without fireworks, and stock car racing is where she built her reputation as the 2020 ARCA Rookie of the Year.
• But let’s keep it real about what sent DEEGAN packing from NASCAR in the first place: cold, hard cash. She laid it out plain as day – quality Xfinity rides demand $6 million, and sponsors aren’t exactly throwing money around like confetti in this economy. Her blunt assessment that “not many opportunities come unless you got deep pockets” cuts right to the heart of racing’s biggest barrier for talented drivers without trust funds.

euro nascar open, hmd motorsports, indy nxt, motorsport sponsorship