Hailie Deegan Signs with AM Racing, Faces Uncertainty After DepartureHailie Deegan Signs with AM Racing, Faces Uncertainty After Departure Hailie Deegan, the daughter of motorsport icon Brian Deegan, has signed a multi-year contract with AM Racing for the 2024 season. However, a recent announcement revealed that AM Racing and Joey Logano have parted ways, leaving Deegan’s future in NASCAR uncertain. Deegan, who turned 23 this year, has an impressive racing pedigree. In 2019, she drove for Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series, earning three victories. She then moved to Ford in 2020, debuting in the NASCAR Truck Series with DGR-Crosley. From 2021 to 2023, Deegan raced full-time in the Truck Series, alternating between David Gilliland Racing and ThorSport Racing. After the 2023 season, Deegan secured a full-time position in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing. However, her departure from the team has cast doubt on her future in the sport. NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick believes that Deegan’s decision to leave the Toyota Racing Development pipeline may have been detrimental to her career. He criticized Ford’s driver development program, calling it the “worst” in the sport. According to Harvick, Deegan needed more time and mentorship in the Truck Series to develop her skills as a NASCAR driver. Harvick also expressed concern about Deegan’s chances of securing another opportunity in NASCAR. “Losing drivers in Toyota Racing Development pipeline is ‘what keeps them awake at night’,” he said. “It’s going to be tough to get another chance.” Deegan’s next move remains unknown. With her talent and the support of her fans, she may still find a way to continue her racing career. However, the current uncertainty surrounding her future is a reminder of the challenges facing aspiring drivers in the competitive world of motorsports.
Hailie Deegan has signed with AM Racing for the 2024 season. The deal was announced as a multi-year driver agreement.
However, before Chicago, AM Racing placed Joey Logano in the No. 15 car for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. And after the race, both sides announced they had gone their separate ways.
The now 23-year-old is the daughter of motorsport legend Brian Deegan.
In 2019, Deegan was in the Toyota Racing Development pipeline when she drove for Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series. She earned three wins for the team between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
In 2020, Deegan moved to Ford when she signed a one-race deal with DGR-Crosley, finishing 16th in her NASCAR Truck Series debut at Kansas Speedway. Between 2021 and 2023, Deegan drove full-time in the Truck Series, between David Gilliland Racing and ThorSport Racing.
Following the 2023 season, Deegan found a full-time position in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing.
Now she’s a free agent.
Kevin Harvick says “no future for NASCAR electric”
Kevin Harvick says it will be tough for Hailie Deegan to get another chance in NASCAR
“I don’t think that guidance and mentorship was exactly what she needed for NASCAR,” Kevin Harvick said on the Happy Hour podcast.
“The big mistake here was to get out of the Toyota development system. I think Ford has the worst development program in terms of their drivers. Toyota has the best. Chevy is somewhere in the middle.”
“Getting out of that Toyota development program, by all means, and they’re willing to give time. And I think she needed more time in the Truck Series. Getting that guidance and mentorship to develop into what she needed to be a NASCAR driver.”
“She carries this fan base off the track, it’s a big fan base. She just came up too fast and ended up in the wrong development system to be successful.”
Harvick added: “It’s going to be tough to get another chance. That’s going to be the toughest thing.”
Harvick retired as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver after the 2023 season. He retired as a Ford driver.
Losing drivers in Toyota Racing Development pipeline is ‘what keeps them awake at night’
Hailie Deegan Gets Engaged
Kevin Harvick Talks to Hailie Deegan
Links
Hailie Deegan | AM Racing | NASCAR
