Hailie Deegan’s Dreams Threaten Tony Stewart’s Legacy in Xfinity As NASCAR’s Resurging Manufacturer Divides Attention

Hailie Deegan is changing teams for the third time in her fourth year of competing in NASCAR. This year has not been the best one so far for her. After driving for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for three years, the 22-year-old speedster has not been able to win even once. Rumors had been flying in the alleys of NASCAR that Hailie Deegan had been looking for an opportunity to step up to the Xfinity Series, but the only thing standing in her way was sponsorships.

However, after signing a multi-year deal with AM Racing, Hailie Deegan now has two primary sponsors, Airbox and Viva Tequila Seltzer, who look forward to achieving newer heights with the number 15 Ford team. However, her joining AM Racing might have an adverse effect on Tony Stewart‘s Xfinity Series team. Let’s find out why.

Will Hailie Deegan’s team replace Stewart-Haas Racing in the Xfinity Series?

Looking at the line-up of Tony Stewart’s Xfinity team, Cole Custer is about to move up to the Cup Series. Moreover, there have been rumors of Riley Herbst exiting SHR for Joe Gibbs Racing, leaving Tony Stewart with practically no reliable drivers and with the risk of his Xfinity team going on a hiatus.

It is a matter of concern whether Ford’s manufacturer support that Stewart-Haas has been receiving until now will change its course and shower on AM Racing’s newest recruit. If Ford shifts its attention to Hailie Deegan, who is, in fact, a Ford development driver, AM Racing could move up the hierarchy and outdo its mid-pack reputation.

Despite Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt behind the wheels of the #25 Xfinity ride, the team has been able to secure only one top-5 and nine top-10s. However, if Ford gives their support and benefits to AM Racing, Hailie Deegan might break through her 20th place or worse finishes and just start finishing top 10s moving forward to the next season.

According to NBC Sports, Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, said, “We are excited to see Hailie continuing to advance her career by running full-time with AM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024.”

Watch This Story: Fans Bash NASCAR Driver for Calling Hailie Deegan “Talentless” Despite Her Remorse

Despite all the hurdles that Hailie Deegan has been facing, she is not ready to quit racing. Here’s why.

Deegan shed light on the source of her never-ending motivation

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Missing the playoffs is perhaps one of the worst things that could happen to any driver across the three NASCAR series. Hailie Deegan has never qualified for the playoffs, and this year, her chances looked even bleaker. However, it’s perhaps the indomitable spirit that she inherited from her veteran motorist father, Brian Deegan, that doesn’t allow her to give up.

While talking to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, she revealed how she was chasing something that not many girls do and how her love for what she does keeps her motivated during the rougher phases of adversity. Hailie Deegan told Pockrass, “Racing is the only thing I know. If it was easy, everybody would do it. There’s even not many girls (who are) a part of it. For being a girl it’s got its pros and cons but I just try to take advantage of every opportunity that I get and make the best of it.”

Read More: Tony Stewart Gets Dead Serious; Has “Bad News” for Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing & Co.

Bob Pockrass was curious about what kept the young speedster up and going. Deegan smiled and said, “It’s yourself; it’s the self-motivation you have in you and that hard work… You gotta have that in yourself.“That’s all that I care about. What honestly keeps me going is the love for the sport and the motivation that I have to succeed in it,” she added gleefully.