Hailie Deegan is making a bold move into the world of open-wheel racing. The 23-year-old Californian has signed with HMD Motorsports to compete in the 2025 Indy NXT season, piloting the No. 38 car in the Indy NXTiShares Exponential Technologies ETF 0.0% campaign. This marks a significant shift for Deegan, who is leaving behind her stock car career to embrace the highly competitive and technical world of Indy NXT. Her debut in March 2025 is set to be one of the most anticipated storylines of the season, as she embarks on this new chapter in her motorsport career.
Mike Maurini, President of HMD Motorsports, expressed his excitement over Deegan’s signing, saying, “Hailie and the Deegan name are huge in motorsports, and we welcome them to the HMD Motorsports family.” He emphasized that Deegan is already deeply committed to the transition, having visited the team’s shop and begun working with her engineer. She is also in the process of relocating to Indianapolis to be closer to the team. “She’s taking the move to open-wheel racing seriously,” Maurini added, signaling that both Deegan and HMD Motorsports are determined to make her switch a successful one.
Deegan, who has been a prominent figure in stock car racing since 2017, initially gained attention with three ARCA Menards Series West victories. However, her full-time shift to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2021 was met with challenges. In 69 starts, she secured only five top-10 finishes, falling short of her initial expectations. In 2024, Deegan made the jump to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, competing in 17 races for AM Racing. Her best finish was 12th, and after parting ways with the team, she found herself 27th in the standings.
Despite these struggles, Deegan remains one of the most recognizable names in American motorsports. Her popularity, bolstered by millions of social media followers and a partnership with Monster Energy, has kept her in the spotlight, even when results have been hard to come by. Now, with a new challenge ahead of her in Indy NXT, all eyes will be on how she adapts to open-wheel racing.
“I have much to learn, but I am ready to go,” Deegan said in a statement, acknowledging the task at hand. With the support of a successful team and experienced teammates, including Josh Pierson, Bryce Aron, and Tommy Smith, she’s eager to soak up knowledge and make an impact. Deegan’s debut at the streets of St. Petersburg next March is sure to be closely watched, as she sets out to prove herself in this new arena.
