Former NASCAR Cup champion Kevin Harvick has pointed to a pivotal mistake that led to the end of Hailie Deegan’s once-promising stock car racing career. Deegan, once hailed as a prodigy, recently announced her departure from NASCAR after a string of disappointing seasons and will now make the bold switch to open-wheel racing in the IndyNXT series in 2025.
Harvick, known for his candid assessments, has not shied away from expressing his thoughts on where things went wrong for Deegan. He zeroed in on her decision to leave the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) program, labeling it the moment her NASCAR career began its downward spiral. In Harvick’s view, stepping out of the Toyota pipeline, which boasts one of the most successful development programs in motorsport, was a career-altering misstep.
“The moment she stepped out of that Toyota program was the turning point,” Harvick said during a recent interview. “As soon as she got into the situation with Ford, things spiraled out of control in the wrong direction.”
Deegan made the switch to Ford ahead of her full-time debut in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, but the results were far from what many expected. After 17 underwhelming races with AM Racing, the two parted ways, effectively ending her stock car racing career. Deegan’s struggles echoed her previous three seasons in the Truck Series, where she failed to gain significant momentum.
Harvick, a seasoned veteran in the world of stock car racing, believes that had Deegan remained with TRD, her trajectory in NASCAR could have been vastly different. “Toyota has the best development program,” Harvick reiterated, highlighting the resources and opportunities she might have had if she’d stayed with the manufacturer.
With Deegan now transitioning to open-wheel racing, Harvick acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge she faces. IndyNXT, the developmental series for IndyCar, will be a radical departure from stock cars, requiring Deegan to adapt to entirely different machinery and racing techniques.
“It’s going to be a tough transition because it’s a completely different car,” Harvick said. “I don’t know much about the IndyNXT program, but I’m glad she’s getting a fresh start. Hopefully, she finds success there.”
Deegan’s bold move has sparked curiosity and anticipation across the motorsport community. Many are eager to see if she can re-establish herself as a solid contender in IndyNXT after a rocky NASCAR stint. While her stock car chapter has come to a close, the open-wheel circuit may offer her the redemption she seeks.
As Hailie Deegan prepares for this next phase in her career, all eyes will be on her as she looks to prove that she can still carve out a successful path in motorsport—albeit on a very different track.
