NASCAR UPDATE: Hailie Deegan Fails to Impress Yet Again as She Crashes at Martinsville

Hallie Deegan’s Xfinity Series disappointments loomed large one more time in 2024, at the Dude Wipes 250 NXS race. The 22-year-old California native brought out the second caution flag in Martinsville after a Stage 1 spinout courtesy of a push by the #44 Chevrolet of Brennan Poole. The Alpha Prime Racing driver made contact with Deegan on Lap 36, coming out of Turn 2. Hailie Deegan’s #15 Ford Mustang for AM Racing had its front bumper cover ripped off due to Kyle Weatherman advancing from the inside, albeit hesitantly.

Coming off of three back-to-back finishes outside the top 20, the #15 driver looked motivated to display better showings for herself at Martinsville this weekend. Nevertheless, as Hailie Deegan limped to her pit stall under caution, she was reportedly heard “requesting her team to get her hood flaps knocked down because they are blocking her view of the turn,” according to journalist Toby Christie.

Another recent update by TC explained, “It is super cold again tonight, so tape will not work most likely for @AMRacingNASCAR and @HailieDeegan”. The #15 car started off at P27, Row 14, alongside Kyle Seig. and as the stages looked set for some mayhem in Martinsville, Brandon Jones of JR Motorsports caused the mini-big one at Martinsville, due to a missed gear shift at the Stage 2 restart.

From AJ Allmendinger to Austin Hill, many suffered at the hands of Jones’ costly mistake. However, wheeling her #14 Toyota Supra from being at least a couple of laps down, Deegan managed to pull off a commendable P18 finish.

Redemption roads lead to Texas for Hailie Deegan

Speaking to Toby Christie after the race, the first female driver to have won races in the ARCA West Series appeared determined, with a hint of disappointment. “I didn’t think we were gonna be able to dig ourselves out of that hole, I didn’t think we were going to be able to stay on the lead lap and be on the lead lap towards the end. So the fact that we were able to do that, all the guys were pretty happy that we got something out of it…”

She reminded her fans, “You kinda go into this one (Martinsville) knowing that it’s probably gonna be a mess towards the end”. Regardless, after displaying incredible resilience for all 251 laps of the Dude Wipes 250, Hailie Deegan will now prepare for the next challenge at Texas, a track where she finished 6th last year in the Truck Series, with ThorSport Racing.

Aric Almirola eventually picked up his fifth career Xfinity Series victory, claiming the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus as well. The driver of the #20 JGR Toyota won Stage 1 and finished second in Stage 2. The NASCAR Xfinity Series will now move to Fort Worth, TX, for the Andy’s Custard 300 next weekend.