Shifting gears in a car comes naturally to drivers, but changing career paths can be a more challenging area. Hailie Deegan is taking the leap, shocking fans by trading her NASCAR roots for the thrill of open-wheel racing. Deegan’s excitement is palpable as she takes this new path. Her bold transition also has the potential to be a game-changer. In a recent video, Deegan revealed surprising details about her plans, leaving fans eager to see where this takes her.

From NASCAR to open-wheel, Deegan embarks on a new journey 

Taking a sharp turn in her career trajectory, Deegan is all set to try a new career avenue – the world of open-wheel racing. She will now be driving for HMD Motorsports as the two have entered into a full-time contract for 2025. Hailie will be seen driving the No. 38 car for a complete 14-race season. 

Deegan has also spoken in detail about why she is making this shift. In a recently shared video, she said, “ I’m sure a lot of you guys are asking why the big change in my career. Going from a stock car to an open wheel is completely two polar opposite things in the motorsports world. When I started driving the SRX Series, I got to meet some of the Indycar Legends on that side of the motorsports. It sparked my interest even more in the Open Wheel side of things”. Hailie Deegan’s journey in the SRX Series began in 2023, where she competed alongside veterans like Tony Stewart. She secured an impressive second-place position in the series.

However, her experience in the NASCAR world has been mixed. Deegan spent four seasons driving for NASCAR, with a varied career record. From 2021 to 2023, she competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, managing only five top-10 finishes. In 2024, Deegan joined the NASCAR Xfinity Series but garnered only 27 points and four top-20 finishes. Her stint with AM Racing was marred by recurrent crashes, resulting in three DNFs.

Hailie Deegan’s NASCAR career appeared to hit another speed bump when her partnership with AM Racing abruptly ended. In an official statement on X, Deegan revealed that their “goals no longer aligned.” Deegan suggested that the split wasn’t solely the driver’s fault, hinting at possible tension between her and the team management. The termination, effective immediately since July, left Deegan in an uncertain position. So, while her decision to shift to the Indy NXT Series might come as a shocker, it could be for the better!

Regarding her shift, she further revealed, “This year I took the opportunity to hop into the F3 car. And it was one of the coolest experiences I honestly had. I just fell in love with it. One thing went to the next literally and I went to a few Indycar races I think. Being in the pit sparked so much conversation so I flew up to Indie, checked out a few shops, met with a few of the teams, met with HMD and I am so excited to be a part of HMD Motorsports”.

While many fans consider this decision sudden, prior reports hinted at Deegan’s interest in Indy NXT. Her presence near an Indy NXT garage in Iowa sparked controversy on X, where a user spotted her and sparked speculation. Some users also noticed that Deegan had started following the official Indy NXT and Andretti Indycar handles, the latter being one of the top Indy NXT teams. Well, now it seems like her fate was to be with HMD Motorsports.

Will the Shift from stock car to open-wheel racing prove to be fateful?

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It is not rare for motorsports drivers to switch between series, as the world seems to be filled with endless opportunities. Similar to her instance, the Indycar superstar, Danica Patrick, had moved into NASCAR in 2012. She took this decision after driving for 8 full-time Indycar seasons. Her career with IndyCar had helped her witness one race win and seven podium finishes. However, NASCAR did not turn out as lucky for Danica Patrick, where she witnessed only 14 top 10s among 252 races. 

However, there are chances of Deegan finally redeeming herself and making it to the top. Her background in dirt tracks acts as an advantage and gives her an edge in ovals. However, with a very average road course performance, she has struggled to make it to the top 30. Having experience in trackways like Nashville and Gateway, Deegan might be able to prove her stance in the upcoming season. Do you also think that Hailie Deegan can make it to the top at Indy NXT?