With about 45 laps to go, Hailie Deegan’s thrilling throwback to Dale Earnhardt’s 1982 Darlington win ended with her third DNF of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Decked out in the iconic Wrangler Blue and Yellow paint scheme, AM Racing’s #15 Airbox Ford was visually unrecognizable almost, after a “ghost tire blowout” left many frustrated with Deegan’s failed attempt at an ‘Intimidating’ tribute.

But with Darlington’s Xfinity spectacle conclusion alongside an inaugural 2024 win for Justin Allgaier, Deegan’s ‘duly expected’ critics were loud to voice their frustrations. And in an uncharacteristic social media outburst, AM Racing’s #15 rookie lashed out at her “uninformed” haters, suggesting a specific source to blame for all the post-race confusions.

Hailie Deegan says, “Not my fault,”  and calls out FOX after her Darlington DNF

After Deegan blew her left rear tire in the final stage of the Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 at Darlington, fans were understandably in disdain, with many pointing their fingers solely at the #15 Ford driver for a seemingly ‘self-inflicted’ incident. Moreover, FOX’s confusing live broadcast replay and social media clip of the event’s fourth caution had many scratching their heads over the true cause of Deegan’s disappointments at Darlington.

As is the nature of the unknown in NASCAR, fans were quick and harsh to break down the assumed reason for the only contact-related yellow of the race until that point, with most spewing words of antagonism against Hailie Deegan. However, the first female driver to have won races in the ARCA West Series had an apt explanation for all her haters.

“Before everyone jumps to conclusions, I was on the top lane and the 07 (who was a lap down) doored me off turn 4 and it cut my LR tire. I kept it out of the wall when my tire shredded but without the door foam we weren’t allowed to keep going. Not my fault they don’t have a replay,” stated Deegan from her official Twitter handle.

The Temecula, California, native highlighted SS-Greenlight Racing’s Patrick Emerling and his #7 Ford Mustang as the primary culprits for her unlucky spinout at the “track too tough to tame.” But more importantly, the Xfinity driver, like the majority attending Darlington’s festivities from their couches, pointed out the below-average coverage presented to fans on behalf of FOX Sports, especially the widely controversial replays plaguing screens lately.

Many concurred with the initial sentiment, but one fan emphasized Deegan’s frustrations unknowingly and aptly in condolences, writing, “It’s not your fault, girl! Fox is really terrible at showing the replays today.”

The villain or the victim?

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