Hailie Deegan, once touted as the next big thing in racing, is now facing a challenging phase in her career. Her performance hasn't been up to the mark, and a recent incident involving her crew chief has added to her woes.
A Promising Start Turns Sour
Deegan, who was seen as a successor to Danica Patrick, has had a tough time maintaining her initial momentum. Despite high hopes, she finished 17th and 21st in the 2021 and 2022 truck standings, respectively. Her move to ThorSport Racing this year aimed to improve her chances, but the results were disappointing.
Crew Chief’s Betrayal
In a shocking turn of events, Deegan’s title-winning crew chief, Rich Lushes, was moved to her teammate Ben Rhodes’s crew. Lushes allegedly devised a strategy that put Rhodes ahead of Deegan, further hampering her chances. The crew chief reportedly said, “We need to get to the bottom as soon as possible…more than likely she won’t get a good start.”
The race ended with Deegan in P17 and Rhodes in P7, keeping his title hopes alive. However, this incident and Deegan’s overall performance this season have cast a shadow over her future at ThorSport.
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