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NASCAR Caught Gen Z Hailie Deegan by Surprise at Richmond

Published 04/06/2024, 10:46 AM EDT

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NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Hailie Deegan’s run at Richmond Raceway was hampered by technical issues. Deegan took a big leap at the start of the season, deciding to compete full-time in the Xfinity Series with AM Racing, and going by the streak of results so far, it has been far from optimal for the California native driver.

However, well before the race weekend got underway at Richmond, Deegan was already put in a difficult situation thanks to NASCAR’s race schedule.

Cold weather and early practice at Richmond caught Deegan off guard

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Sharing her experience and chores from the race weekend at Richmond Raceway, Deegan had to wake up early in the morning. With the practice scheduled for 8:30, the driver woke up at about 5 in the morning and started making her way to the racetrack. While the timing of the schedule did take Deegan by surprise the weather conditions added another layer of challenge for her to deal with.

I’m literally going to get there, probably put my suit on because it’s 30 degrees outside and we’re getting into practice qualifying, and we race today at midday, so it’s going to be quite an early show, and things are going to be happening fast… I don’t even think it’s tiredness or like the early morning that’s hurting me the most; it’s definitely the fact that it’s cold. This is the most gripped-up Richmond will ever be, the track temperature is going to be so low,” she said.

However, despite a good practice run and solid showings at the race, Deegan’s run was once again derailed by technical issues with her car. With just 10 laps into the race, her No. 15 Ford car lost power, and she was forced to guide the car to the pit road. After a brief inspection check, the crew decided that the car wouldn’t be able to see the end of the race, resulting in yet another DNF finish in 31st place.

Given that her rookie season in the Xfinity Series is not going as planned, Deegan is now banking on making a comeback in today’s race at Martinsville Speedway.

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Deegan is eyeing a comeback at Martinsville Speedway

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Hailie Deegan’s best result in the Xfinity Series came last season with SS-Green Light racing. Making a single start in the series in Las Vegas, she finished inside the top 15 positions at #13. Interestingly, it has been the only venue in her rookie Xfinity season where she has come close to delivering a solid performance. Out of all the six races, the #15 finish is the only positive outcome for the driver and the No. 15 AM Racing team. But with Martinsville up next, Deegan is optimistic about her chances of staging a comeback run.

“Martinsville Speedway has always been a decent track for me in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. I am hoping that will continue on Saturday night with our No. 15 Ford AirBox Mustang. Martinsville has always been about track position and staying out of trouble, and I am hoping we are able to overcome the both and deliver the AM Racing team a good finish,” she said via AM Racing.

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Starting in 27th place for tonight’s race at Martinsville, the odds are already stacked against Hailie Deegan. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if she manages to get past her recent troubles and deliver a solid performance.

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Written by:

Chintan Devgania

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Chintan Mahesh Devgania is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. As someone who likes to dive deep into the sport, he often takes up less explored topics to eventually see them make their way into top stories. His report on Toyota’s young recruit, Jade Avedisian, sharing her thoughts on Late Model Racing, was an example of that.
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Edited by:

Harshita