Hailie Deegan, the rising star of off-road and stock car racing, is set to take a major leap into open-wheel racing, joining HMD Motorsports for a full season in the NTT IndyCar Series’ top development category, Indy NXT. The 23-year-old daughter of action sports icon Brian Deegan is eager to tackle the new challenge, marking a significant shift in her racing career. Deegan will debut this week on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the prestigious Chris Griffis Test.
“I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to working with a proven program in HMD Motorsports,” Deegan shared. “I have much to learn, but I am ready to go. The team brings a wealth of knowledge for me to pull from, and I look forward to soaking up as much of that as possible before my race debut next March in St. Petersburg.”
Deegan will line up alongside notable drivers such as championship front-runner Caio Collet and newcomers Bryce Aron, Josh Pierson, and Tommy Smith for the 2025 season with HMD Motorsports. The team’s president, Mike Maurini, expressed enthusiasm about Deegan’s addition to their lineup: “Hailie, and especially the Deegan name, are huge in motorsports, and we welcome them to the HMD Motorsports family. Hailie has already been out to the shop and is taking the move to open-wheel racing seriously. She’s looking for a place in Indianapolis to be close to the team and is already working closely with her engineer.”
This move into Indy NXT signals a fresh chapter for Deegan, who has a rich background in off-road racing and stock cars, recently competing in the Side-by-Side (SxS) class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus. During the event, she hinted at the upcoming announcement, saying, “We’re working on stuff, just can’t say a whole lot right now.”
In Utah, Deegan faced stiff competition, including action sports legends like Travis Pastrana and the children of the late Ken Block, Kira and Mika Block. Despite finishing the first day of racing in fourth, Deegan did not advance to the final, showcasing just how competitive the SxS class has become.
Reflecting on the experience, Deegan acknowledged the high level of talent in the field: “The cream always rises to the top. There’s always a fast couple of guys, and I think it’s like that in all series. There’s always the really fast guys.”
While Deegan’s focus is now on Indy NXT, her future in off-road racing, particularly Nitrocross, remains uncertain. When asked about a potential move to Nitrocross’ premier Group E class, where her father competed last season, Deegan was firm: “I don’t think so, I’m not into electric stuff so I don’t know if I’d want to do that. Plus, I’ve never been into rallycross cars, that was always my dad’s thing. It’s just not my forte.”
As Deegan embarks on this new journey in open-wheel racing, fans will be eager to see how she adapts to the high-speed world of Indy NXT. Her debut season with HMD Motorsports is set to begin in March 2025 at the iconic St. Petersburg Grand Prix.
