Former NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan has revealed that her main goal is to return to the premier stock car racing series despite her off-roading endeavors. She currently races in the Side-by-Side class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus and has also signed a contract with Indy NXT for 2025 with HMD Motorsports.
Deegan has been popular for racing in NASCAR's Xfinity and Truck series but is currently without a seat after she parted ways with AM Racing. While she enjoys the off-road excursions, a full-time off-road role is not something she is interested in, despite her father Brian Deegan racing four times last season in the electric class.
However, she has followed her father's footsteps in off-roading as she enjoys racing with the "Block kids," Mika and Kira Block, alongside Travis Pastrana, bringing back memories of the X Games Rally Car Racing era, when stars like her father, Brian Deegan, Ken Block, and Pastrana, dominated the scene. Speaking to RACER, she said:
“It’s definitely cool.
“The Block kids are racing and they’re all great kids. We’re all here having fun, having a blast, and it’s a great time.
“It’s been really cool because I like coming here and racing UTVs, Can-Ams are great fun to drive, I drive them all the time at my house, so I haven’t really got away from dirt, but I’d say (I have) the racing side, so it’s good to be back.”
Currently, Deegan says she's learning to tame the Can-Am Maverick R at her home track, given her experience driving an X. She added:
“I drive Can-Ams at the house, we have a track at our house so I feel like more so getting used to the Maverick R because it’s a little bit more new to me.
“I usually drive an X, so I’m definitely getting used to that, the shifting, even though it’s automatic shifting, so kind of timing it all and all the different inputs.”
In the Side-by-Side class at Utah, she delivered a fourth-place finish on the first day but failed to enter the eight-car final the following day. Deegan cited her lack of experience against the other seasoned drivers for the setback, such as Kainan Baker, Gray Leadbetter, Cash LeCroy, Mia Chapman, the Block kids, and Pastrana. She added:
“The cream always rises to the top. There’s always a fast couple of guys and I think it’s like that in all series.
“This one’s pretty competitive too, especially since everyone’s been racing all year and I haven’t been here at all, so everyone’s got it all figured out.”
Deegan is particular about not racing in Nitrocross’ premier Group E class like her father, suggesting it just isn't her "forte." She said:
“I don’t think so, I’m not into electric stuff so I don’t know if I’d want to do that.
“Plus I’ve never been into rallycross cars, that was always my Dad’s thing. I’ve never taken an interest in it, it’s just not my forte.”
Throwing light on her NASCAR future, Deegan hinted at some development but didn't reveal the details. She said:
“We’re working on stuff.
“Just can’t say a whole lot right now.”
