“Hailie, and especially the Deegan name, are huge in motorsports, and we welcome them to the HMD Motorsports family,“ HMD Motorsports President Mike Maurini said, marking a new chapter in Deegan’s career. As the daughter of motocross legend Brian Deegan, Hailie carved her own path in racing, earning recognition in NASCAR before making the jump to Indy NXT.

Her transition signals a fresh start, but her recent remarks suggest more than just excitement for a new opportunity. In a recent interview, Deegan praised HMD for their professionalism and high standards. These were comments that, when contrasted with her turbulent NASCAR tenure, raise eyebrows. Was this just a faulty observation or really a veiled jab at her former team?

A professional reset for Hailie Deegan after AM Racing exit

Hailie Deegan’s NASCAR journey took an unexpected turn in 2024 when she parted ways with AM Racing during her rookie Xfinity Series season. Her struggles with the team were evident, as she later admitted, “Beginning this season, I had a lot of excitement and hope… Unfortunately, it has not turned out the way that I expected.” The team’s internal challenges and performance inconsistencies prompted questions about whether AM Racing provided the right environment for her growth.

Now, Deegan has shifted gears, making the bold move to open-wheel racing with HMD Motorsports in INDY NXT. Reflecting on her new team, she emphasized its professionalism, saying, “HMD has been amazing. They’re such a professional team and they definitely have their stuff together.” 

The contrast is clear. While AM Racing struggled with performance alignment, HMD operates with a structured, data-driven approach that attracts top-tier talent. At AM Racing, the first crew chief, Joe Williams, was replaced by Matt Lucas. When compared, Deegan has shown better performance under Williams. Next, the team got Joey Logano to replace her in Chicago. Williams had even hinted towards internal issues at AM Racing, the exact details remain unknown. Nevertheless, her time at AM Racing was filled with drama, to say the least.

Now, at IndyCar, one of the biggest changes for Deegan is the shift to a street course at St. Petersburg. Now, this is something she had limited preparation for. “There are lots of factors that St. Petersburg has been throwing at me… we didn’t test this track,” she explained. At AM Racing, testing opportunities and simulator resources were often a point of contention. Now, with HMD Motorsports, she has access to a vast pool of experienced drivers and advanced data analysis. This can prove to be a crucial advantage in her transition.

Deegan’s move to INDY NXT represents more than just a change in racing formats—it’s a fresh start in an environment that values professionalism and teamwork. With a clean slate at HMD Motorsports, she’s ready to rebuild her confidence and prove her potential on a new stage. “I think my goal is to get through this one here. Have a clean, easy day for this race and then really start going from here.”

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Not a great start to the INDY NXT season opener for Hailie Deegan

Hailie Deegan’s transition to INDY NXT was supposed to be a fresh start. But her debut practice session at St. Petersburg suggests familiar struggles she faced at Xfinity. She finished last (21st), clocking a time 4.7517 seconds off the leader and 2.5 seconds behind 20th place finisher Nikita Johnson. While it’s still early, the gap raises concerns about her adaptation to open-wheel racing.

This underwhelming start mirrors her winless 2023 NASCAR Xfinity season, in which she consistently finished in the low 20s and high 30s. Despite joining AM Racing with high hopes, she failed to deliver strong results, ultimately parting ways with the team. Those disappointing performances had already fueled skepticism about her capabilities, and this latest result won’t silence her critics.

Deegan acknowledged the challenges of adapting to a street course, stating, “There are lots of unknowns going into it.” However, as the season progresses, she will need to show improvement to prove she belongs at this level. Will she rise to the occasion, or will doubts about her competitiveness continue to grow? The main race will take place on March 2. Hopefully, Deegan has a good, if not great, start to her Indy career.