Successfully completing four of its slated six races, Tony Stewart’s SRX Racing venture then arrived at the Eldora Speedway’s half-mile dirt oval. The windshield was pulled from the SRX Series cars as drivers not only dodged their rivals but also the dirt that was flung up from the Eldora oval. 

Yet to secure a win or a top-5 finish since her NASCAR Truck Series career took off in 2021, Hailie Deegan secure her best-ever finish during her fourth SRX run of the 2023 season. Speaking in a post-race interview, the Temecula native radiated confidence as she revealed her success mantra. 

Hailie Deegan details her confidence struggles

Falling victim to Paul Tracy’s antics at Pulaski County, Deegan went on to secure a 5th-place finish at Berlin. But her troubles didn’t end there. Competing in his first SRX series race of the 2023 season, Austin Dillon lost traction in Turn 3 during Lap 12 of the Heat 1 race. Slamming sideways into the outer retaining wall, Dillon was then rear-ended by Deegan’s #3 car as she lost traction. The ensuing carnage collected almost half of the playing field, with Hailie Deegan’s #5 car’s front facia crumpling up owing to the impact. Although the damage was nearly race-ending, the crew quickly got to work, allowing Deegan to complete Eldora’s Main Event with her best-ever second-place finish in the SEX Series.

Ecstatic after securing the runner-up spot, Deegan in a post-race interview, detailed how her confidence had been building up over the past weekends. “Massive, I think that’s something that I’ve been lacking the last couple years. I think it’s something that’s slowly diminished and just happens over time, it’s something you don’t even notice. It just little by little you get beat down, think people say, whatever it is, bad races weighing in on you, I get hurt. It does affect you mentally, that affects your performance,” Hailie Deegan said.

She further added, “There is a reason why there is mental coaches out there, and people to make you better and keep you confident. Not making you cocky, but confident. So you believe in yourself and believe in your abilities. That’s something that I’ve been working on this last, I’d say month or so, and I don’t know if it’s just timing or whatnot but, if this is how it keeps going and we’re working on that stuff, it’s going pretty good and I’m not mad about it.”

Watch This Story: An Hour Before Riling Up Dean Thompson, Hailie Deegan Made Another NASCAR Driver Furious

While the Temecula native revealed how her confidence building led to her massive success at Eldora, SRX Series, and Eldora Speedway owner, Tony Stewart finally got his big break.

Tony Stewart pulls ahead of the competition at Eldora

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Lagging behind in his own venture, Tony ‘Smoke’ Stewart finished in the 11th spot at the Stafford 1 race. Moving up to the 7th spot at Stafford 2, Smoke then placed 3rd at Motor Mile. After another 7th spot finish at Berlin, Smoke’s luck then took a turn as he arrived at the half-mile dirt oval.

Leading the field in the Heat 1 and Heat 2 races, Stewart’s onslaught continued in the Main Event as he flew under the checkered flag, claiming his first win in his own racing venture. Enthralled by his win, Stewart then proceeded to commend Hailie Deegan’s racing prowess. “That’s the one thing people don’t realize is Hailie Deegan is one hell of a dirt driver, so she gets the second there. She’s going to put pressure on, so just had to try to get some clean laps on restarts and get into rhythm again and get going,” Smoke said.

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With just one race remaining at the conclusion of the SRX Series 2023 season, can Hailie Deegan secure the SRX Series 2023 championship title?