Former NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan is poised to follow in Danica Patrick‘s footsteps by moving into open racing. Deegan will make her debut in the 2025 Indy NXT Series with HMD Motorsports give what their first step towards NTT IndyCar Series marked. This significant move comes after a difficult 2024 NASCAR season that was one of the most challenging of her career.
Deegan entered the 2024 season with hopes of continuing her career in the second division NASCAR Xfinity Series after three stagnant years in the Truck Series DGR and ThorSport Racing to revive. Unfortunately, their time stood AM Racing fell short of expectations, with their best result being a P12 at Talladega. Despite AM Racing’s potential as a mid-tier competitor, Deegan struggled to secure consistent top-10 finishes, leading to her separation from the team after just 17 races.
Now Deegan is taking the bold step into open racing and has committed to the Indy NXT Series to drive – the funding series for IndyCar. She will No. 38 Entry for HMD Motorsports pilot during the 14-race 2025 season. This transition offers Deegan the opportunity to follow a similar path to Danica Patrick, the only woman to win an IndyCar race, and build a new chapter in her motorsports career.
Deegan’s entry into the Indy NXT Series represents a significant challenge for the 23-year-old as she has no prior experience in open racing. Still, she embraces the opportunity and is eager to overcome the learning curve before her debut in St. Petersburg to be mastered next March. Regarding the new venture, Deegan shared her excitement:
“I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to working with a proven program at HMD Motorsports. I have a lot to learn, but I’m ready to get started. The team brings a wealth of knowledge to draw from and I look forward to soaking up as much of it as I can before I make my racing debut in St. Petersburg next March.”
Deegan will join the passengers Caio Collet, Bryce Aron, Josh Pierson and Tommy Smith joining HMD Motorsports, all aiming to make a name for themselves in IndyCar. Your first real opportunity to prove yourself will be at Chris Griffis Test on October 18th, where she will test together with other rookies.
This move to single-seater racing presents a new challenge for Deegan, but with the right team and determination, she wants to rebuild her career and prove her skills in the IndyCar paddock.
