Hailie Deegan Unravels the ‘Wild’ Challenges of Being an Xfinity Series Rookie

As if NASCAR’s decision to stop practicing at all superspeedway races wasn’t enough to throw rookies off, Hailie Deegan‘s #15 for AM Racing ran out of fuel with just two laps to go at Atlanta. After Daytona, Hailie wasn’t sure how to navigate through the superspeedways. All her hopes were pinned on the second Xfinity race to run smoothly for her. However, her luck ran dry there again.

Securing a spot in the 2024 Xfinity Series, Hailie Deegan’s NASCAR journey was met with optimism. But after Atlanta’s race, the Xfinity debutant felt she just couldn’t wrap her head around drafting and where she should be on the track, showcasing how important practice could be for a track like Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The conclusion of the race was triggered by an overtime restart following Ryan Sieg running out of fuel on the apron of the track. Throughout the final stage, the drivers navigated under green flag conditions, grappling with the uncertainty of having enough fuel to reach the checkered flag. Sieg’s caution prompted the field to confront tough choices: to pit for fuel or remain on the track. This risk didn’t pay off for numerous drivers, including Hailie Deegan, who found themselves dealing with the consequences.

Hailie Deegan tackles the challenges of being a rookie

Being a rookie on a superspeedway is an unparalleled challenge in the world of motorsport. Although the track itself was familiar territory for Hailie Deegan, the transition from the truck series to Xfinity, particularly without the luxury of any practice, introduced a whole new set of unfamiliar challenges for her to navigate.

Before going into the race, in her YouTube video, she had expressed how the entire situation was wild for her, saying, “Now we’re here at Atlanta. So this one’s a little bit wild, though, especially for me. I’m a rookie in the Xfinity series, haven’t driven these cars a whole lot, and there’s no practice, no practice at all.”

“We’re going right into qualifying, and so I was kind of like, man, like, this is wild. We’re gonna go out there. My first lap is wide open. You can’t make sure like, hey, everything feels good. Like nothing’s hanging the track at all. Nothing. You just go and you hope it sticks. Very odd, especially for me in this being such a fast track“.

As the race concluded, she regretted the unfortunate happenings of the event, but still showed a tinge of optimism for the upcoming race at Las Vegas. She said,

Chase Cabre sticks with Hailie, calling the superspeedways gnarly

A part of common knowledge, the absence of practice sessions can increase the risk of unpredictable accidents, leaving drivers vulnerable despite their best efforts. This issue thus sparked a debate within the NASCAR community, particularly gaining traction when Deegan’s partner addressed the situation.

Brett Griffin, a spotter, took to Twitter to share how being a rookie on the superspeedways, without any practice, is something NASCAR caused that he won’t let go. Fans shared and commented on his post, with Chase Cabre, Hailie’s fiance, taking a dig at the situation.

Hailie Deegan’s rookie journey in the 2024 Xfinity Series hit a snag at Atlanta, where the absence of practice sessions posed a significant challenge. Yet Despite setbacks, Deegan remains determined to overcome obstacles and make her mark in the series as she moves on to Las Vegas.

Read More: Hailie Deegan: “Bad Relationship With Daytona” Stole Xfinity Series Debut With AM Racing