NASCAR Rumor: Hailie Deegan Prepares to Switch From NASCAR After Dismal Xfinity Run Cut Short by AM Racing

Hailie Deegan‘s promising run in NASCAR seems to have hit a roadblock. The 22-year-old driver’s rookie season in the Xfinity Series with AM Racing came to an abrupt end in July 2024 after a mutual decision to part ways. Deegan’s struggles on the track, coupled with AM Racing’s decision to substitute veteran Joey Logano for a race, fueled rumors of a potential series switch for the young driver.

Hailie Deegan arrived in the Xfinity Series with a promising pedigree. Her success in the ARCA West Series and a third-place finish in the 2020 ARCA national series had many expecting a bright future. However, the transition to NASCAR proved challenging. Deegan’s average finish of 26.8, with only four top-20 results, fell short of expectations. Stranded in the middle of her rookie season, what’s next for her?

An emotional Hailie in her parting away statement said, “There are always several reasons within a race team as to why things do or do not work, but sadly our goals no longer align. With that being said, myself and AM Racing will be parting ways… The only thing I am focused on is getting back to being competitive,”

While the reasons for the split remain undisclosed, rumors of a potential switch to IndyCar have set the racing world abuzz. It all started when a user on X posted, “How would you feel if Hailie Deegan decided to give IndyCar a try? According to @DLand91 she’s been hanging around the Indy NXT series at Iowa.” But even if she does, would this be a wise decision for the young driver?

IndyCar offers a different racing landscape compared to NASCAR. Open-wheel, high-horsepower machines on permanent road courses and street circuits demand a distinct skill set. Deegan’s struggles on ovals in NASCAR might not translate to IndyCar. In fact, her potential strength on road courses, showcased in limited ARCA outings, could flourish on IndyCar’s diverse tracks.

With Deegan’s departure, the seat for the Ford Mustang has more contenders. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry is also in line. The 5-time Xfinity race-winner is certainly a replacement option. This is possible due to the technical alliance Ford has with Stewart-Haas Racing.

In NASCAR, the partnership between a racer and their crew chief is crucial, often directly influencing on-field performance. This relationship has been spotlighted recently in discussions about Hailie Deegan and her former crew chief, Joe Williams. Williams, who blamed the AM Racing team for Deegan’s struggles, emphasized that the issues went beyond the driver and that goals simply didn’t align.

While Deegan has not yet revealed her next move, the buzz around the NASCAR community focuses on what led to her current situation.

Is quick success a problem or were Dale Jr and Keselowski’s claims true?

Deegan’s career trajectory reminds NASCAR veteran Kurt Busch of his early struggles. Busch recounted a conversation with Jack Roush after his first truck win, where he was quickly offered a chance to move up to the Cup series. He mentioned, “Jack Roush came up to me when we won Milwaukee. It was the July 4th weekend, it was my first-ever win in trucks. He says, ‘Hey, would you like to go to Cup?’”

By stating this, Busch emphasized how young drivers take on too much too soon, which might have been the case with Deegan. After her successes in the ARCA Menards Series and her rookie title in 2020, Deegan entered NASCAR’s national series in 2021, perhaps too quickly, just like Kurt Busch.

Next, Dale Earnhardt Jr talked on the same line as Busch, on his recent podcast episode. According to him, drivers feel the pressure to accept once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Who wouldn’t? Junior even went on to say, “I think that she felt like, ‘Man, I’ve really got to take this. This is being presented to me, and I’ve got to take it. It’s Xfinity, I think I’ll fit those cars better. I think I’ll do a better job in this series.”

While both of them talk about the problem being ‘quick success’, Brad Keselowski had a different reason, related to when Logano was announced to take the seat being No. 15 Ford in Chicago. His belief: Ford sacked Deegan, as they wanted the reserve driver, Joey Logano, to get some track time. Getting time off the simulator and on the track is important. 

While some attribute Deegan’s challenges to rapid success, others blame the team dynamics. Regardless, both Deegan and her former crew chief Joe Williams have faced the consequences. Will Hailie Deegan switch or stay in NASCAR? Only time will tell.