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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 08: Hailie Deegan, driver of the #4 Monster Energy Ford, stands on the grid prior to the ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway on February 08, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 08: Hailie Deegan, driver of the #4 Monster Energy Ford, stands on the grid prior to the ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway on February 08, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Hailie Deegan is seen as NASCAR’s best shot at a female superstar since Danica Patrick. The David Gilliland driver races in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck series. She recently sat down in an interview that had quick questions and quick answers.
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One answer which stood out was when the 19-year-old driver was asked about the quality or skill which she envies in other drivers.
“I feel like I lack patience a little bit. Maybe it’s just me overall, but I wouldn’t say compared to another driver. Maybe I’m normal — or not. I don’t know. I don’t hang around too many drivers to know,” she said to The Athletic.
This was interesting because traditionally race drivers are mostly surrounded by all things racing. So focusing on the car and other drivers is what largely rests in their minds and that is what’s assumed of them.
But Hailie Deegan challenges this notion.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 12, 2021; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Camping World Truck Series driver Hailie Deegan (1) is introduced during the NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Along with having a substantial social media following, she’s also a very skilled driver.
Hailie Deegan outruns big names
Hailie Deegan recently finished ahead of many big names at Knoxville Raceway in Camping World SRX Series.
Although she finished second, behind Tony Stewart, the young driver led for most of the 100 laps.
SMOKE delivered 💨@TonyStewart is your @SRXRacing main event winner tonight. pic.twitter.com/Gt331gCLtj
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 20, 2021
Behind her in the field, there were pretty well-known, experienced names, such as the former NASCAR Champions, Bill Elliott and Bobby Labonte, two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip and Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves.
The race in Iowa ended a busy weekend for Deegan.
After racing in the Truck Series on Friday where she finished 21st, she capped off her weekend with the second-place finish in Iowa.
The David Gilliland Racing driver currently sits 17th in the point standings in her rookie season. She is to record a finish inside the Top 10 but remains hopeful for not only a good finish but a race win.
“So the hopeful plan, as long as sponsor stuff goes accordingly — which it’s not done yet — would obviously be to win a Truck race. That’s the big goal. But who knows when that’s gonna happen? I still have a lot of work to do, but that would be the dream.”
With just two races left in the season, Martinsville and Phoenix, will Deegan claim her first win in her first season?
Also Read: Hailie Deegan Talks About the Most Embarrassing Moment of Her NASCAR Career
