Brainchild of NASCAR legend Tony Stewart, SRX Racing is creating a splash in the motorsports world, providing a platform for veteran drivers to flaunt their skills on short tracks. With six thrilling short-track races in the season, SRX hit high gear at Eldora recently. While Tony Stewart clinched the victory, a rising star stole the limelight.

A full-time competitor in the NASCAR Truck Series, the young and talented Hailie Deegan showcased her prowess with a remarkable performance, securing her personal best finish at Eldora.

NASCAR icon offers support as Hailie Deegan dominates at Eldora

Hailie Deegan’s journey to her impressive finish was a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns. The road to her remarkable achievement began with a disastrous start in Heat 1, where she found herself ensnared in a massive pileup that stemmed from Austin Dillon‘s radiator hose mishap. Deegan’s car bore the brunt of the collision, leaving it severely battered and bruised. Despite the setback, she raced her way to a commendable 7th position in Heat 2, showing promise with her backup car.

The Main Event saw Deegan starting from the 8th spot as she carved her way through the field with finesse, gaining ground lap after lap. By the halfway mark, Deegan was hot on the heels of seasoned veterans Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman. With just six laps remaining, she lined up alongside Stewart on the outside, capitalizing on a superb launch to seize the lead. Although her valiant efforts fell just shy of securing the top spot, Deegan concluded the weekend on a high note with a commendable 2nd-place finish.

After her impressive performance in Eldora, Deegan took to Instagram to share her excitement, captioning her post, “What an epic first experience racing at Eldora! Went to a backup car after the heat race and drove up to 2nd in the main.” The support poured in, notably from former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, who left an encouraging comment beneath her post. He lauded her accomplishments, stating, “Way to go, girl! Dirt racing is in your blood. Hollah for some asphalt tips! I got you!”

However, not everyone has been as supportive of Hailie Deegan as Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch. Just a few days ago, she was seemingly targeted for participating in SRX Series by two veterans of the sport.

NASCAR veterans question SRX series alignment with Hailie Deegan’s inclusion

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Despite recent achievements garnering praise within the community, Hailie Deegan continues to grapple with a tide of criticism stemming from her past lackluster performances. The swirling controversy took center stage during a candid exchange between professional stock car racing drivers Landon Cassill and Parker Kligerman. Their discourse not only delved into the essence of the newly minted SRX series but also unearthed deeper concerns.

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Cassill, renowned for his straightforward opinions, expressed his perplexity regarding the purpose behind SRX, stating, “I don’t get it.” The debate took an intriguing turn as Cassill questioned SRX’s roster choices, singling out Hailie Deegan. While acknowledging her talent, he questioned her alignment with the series’ superstar ethos, implying that her inclusion may not align with the IROC 2.0 concept SRX seems to evoke.

“They’re good racers; I am not trying to take anything away, but I mean like Ken Schrader is a legend and he is a draw at a lot of these short tracks but…if you are trying to make IROC 2.0, I don’t know if Hailie Deegan is your driver for that,” Cassill added.

Amidst the dialogue, Hailie Deegan’s success emerges as a testament to her determination, sparking a broader discussion about the essence and trajectory of SRX and its role in propelling rising talents to the forefront of motorsports superstardom.

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