Hailie Deegan’s NASCAR chapter has come to a close, and with it, a whirlwind journey filled with potential, controversy, and hard lessons learned. As the 22-year-old announces her shift to the 2025 IndyCar NXT season with HMD Motorsports, racing fans are left to wonder if this bold move will allow Deegan to rewrite her narrative—or if it’s simply a new battleground for old challenges.
Deegan, who will race the #38 car, leaves behind a rocky NASCAR record. With 14 DNFs in 70 Truck Series races between 2020 and 2023 and three more during her brief 2024 Xfinity Series stint, the California native struggled to find consistency. Her average finish of 26.8 in Xfinity underscored the challenges she faced at AM Racing, and her replacement by Joey Logano mid-season marked a low point in her NASCAR career. Yet, despite the setbacks, her pivot to open-wheel racing could be the fresh start she needs.
Ken Schrader’s Faith in Deegan’s Potential
Not everyone has written off Deegan’s racing future. NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, who competed against Deegan in the SRX Series, has been vocal about her untapped potential. Reflecting on her SRX debut in 2021, where she earned a second-place finish at Knoxville Raceway, Schrader praised her adaptability. “She fairly hauled a– and did a great job,” he said. “It’s a hell of a learning curve to go to a different vehicle like that, but she’s young enough that she shouldn’t be set in her ways.”
Deegan herself has acknowledged the steep learning curve ahead. Speaking about her initial experience in formula car racing at the Formula Regional Americas Championship in 2024, she said, “It’s so much different than anything I’ve ever done before. I’m just taking in as much information as I can and learning from it.”
The Gender Debate in NASCAR: Is the Deck Stacked Against Women?
Deegan’s father, Brian Deegan, has fueled discussions about NASCAR’s treatment of female drivers. Following her departure, he accused the sport of being unprepared for a “successful girl race car driver.” His comments highlight a longstanding debate about gender equality in NASCAR, where only 20 women have competed in the Cup Series since Sara Christian’s debut in 1949.
Ken Schrader, however, rejected the notion of systemic bias. “NASCAR’s ready for whoever the next successful driver is,” he argued, emphasizing the sport’s brutal competitiveness rather than gender-specific barriers. NASCAR’s first Arab-American female driver, Toni Breidinger, who recently secured a full-time Truck Series ride with Tricon Garage, supports Schrader’s stance. With 19 USAC victories, Breidinger is already proving that opportunity and performance can break barriers.
A New Battleground: Open-Wheel Racing’s Promise and Peril
Deegan’s move to IndyCar NXT marks a dramatic shift in her career. Open-wheel racing demands precision and discipline, and as Kenny Wallace pointed out, the format may protect her from some of the aggressive tactics she faced in NASCAR. “It’s harder to wreck anybody in an open-wheel car,” Wallace said, referencing Deegan’s struggles with being unnecessarily taken out in stock car races.
However, the challenges are far from over. IndyCar is an unforgiving arena where mistakes are magnified, and the competition is relentless. Still, Deegan’s prior success in diverse racing formats, including her historic 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series win, suggests she has the adaptability to thrive in this new environment.
Can Women Break NASCAR’s Glass Ceiling?
Deegan’s departure reignites the broader question: Will we see a female Cup Series winner in the near future? Danica Patrick’s groundbreaking Daytona 500 pole in 2013 brought hope, but her seven-year career ended without a single victory. Critics argue that NASCAR’s hyper-competitive structure and reliance on sponsorship dollars disproportionately affect women, who often face additional scrutiny and fewer opportunities.
Schrader believes the issue is less about gender and more about opportunity. “There are thousands of good racers throughout the country, and only a fraction of them make it to NASCAR. Statistically, the chances are even smaller for female drivers,” he said.
What’s Next for Deegan?
As Deegan prepares for her IndyCar NXT debut, fans and critics alike will watch closely to see if this transition can reignite her career. With her raw talent, a history of breaking barriers, and a fresh platform to showcase her skills, the potential for redemption is there.
Deegan’s story is far from over. Whether she finds success in open-wheel racing or returns to stock cars down the line, one thing is certain—she’s determined to prove she belongs in the world of motorsports.
For NASCAR, the challenge remains: Can the sport create an environment where drivers, regardless of gender, are judged purely on their talent? Or will history continue to repeat itself, leaving fans to wonder what could have been?
