Hailie Deegan’s subsequent flip in motor racing will happen within the NTT IndyCar Collection’ high growth class with HMD Motorsports, the place the younger veteran of off-road and inventory automobile racing will sort out a full season of Indy NXT.
The 23-year-old daughter of motion sports activities legend Brian Deegan will make her open-wheel debut later this week on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course in the course of the annual Chris Griffis Check.
“I’m excited in regards to the alternative and sit up for working with a confirmed program in HMD Motorsports,” Deegan mentioned. “I’ve a lot to be taught, however I’m able to go. The crew brings a wealth of data for me to drag from, and I sit up for absorbing as a lot of that as attainable earlier than my race debut subsequent March in St. Petersburg.”
Deegan joins championship front-runner Caio Collet, HMD newcomer Bryce Aron, Josh Pierson, and Tommy Smith among the many confirmed HMD drivers for 2025.
“Hailie, and particularly the Deegan identify, are enormous in motorsports, and we welcome them to the HMD Motorsports household,” mentioned crew president Mike Maurini. “Hailie has already been out to the store and is taking the transfer to open-wheel racing critically. She is in search of a spot within the Indianapolis space to be emersed with the crew and is already working along with her engineer. We need to ensure that she and all the opposite HMD Motorsports drivers are as prepared as attainable for each on-track session.”
Deegan’s shock Indy NXT transfer comes after she just lately returned to her off-road roots in Nitrocross. Qnigan/Nitrocross
Deegan’s transfer to open-wheel racing comes after she just lately appeared within the Facet-by-Facet class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus, the place she hinted at at the moment’s announcement, saying, “We’re engaged on stuff, simply can’t say an entire lot proper now.”
In Utah she competed towards her father’s rival Travis Pastrana, in addition to Kira and Mika Block, kids of the late Ken Block.
“It’s undoubtedly cool,” Deegan informed RACER of her transient return to off-road racing. “The Block children are racing they usually’re all nice children. We’re all right here having enjoyable, having a blast, and it’s a good time.
“It’s been actually cool as a result of I like racing UTVs. Can-Ams are nice enjoyable to drive, I drive them on a regular basis at my home, so I haven’t actually received away from dust, however I’d say (I’ve) the racing facet, so it was good to be again.”
Deegan completed the primary day of racing in Utah in fourth, however didn’t advance to the eight-car ultimate on the second day, highlighting the highly-competitive nature of the SxS class which in addition to the Blocks and Pastrana additionally contains the likes of rising off-road skills Kainan Baker, Grey Leadbetter, Money LeCroy, and Mia Chapman.
“The cream all the time rises to the highest. There’s all the time a quick couple of men and I believe it’s like that in all sequence,” Deegan mentioned. “There’s all the time so many alternative sequence that I’ve raced and there’s all the time the actually quick guys.
“This one’s fairly aggressive too, particularly since everybody’s been racing all 12 months and I haven’t been right here in any respect, so everybody’s received all of it found out.”
Whereas Deegan’s subsequent transfer is now set, a future transfer to Nitrocross’ premier Group E class, the place her father raced 4 occasions final season, is sort of undoubtedly not on the playing cards.
“I don’t suppose so, I’m not into electrical stuff so I don’t know if I’d need to do this,” she mentioned of the potential of racing in Nitrocross’ foremost recreation. “Plus I’ve by no means been into rallycross automobiles, that was all the time my Dad’s factor. I’ve by no means taken an curiosity in it, it’s simply not my forte.”
