Hailie Deegan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hailie Deegan
Hailie Deegan at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023
Born	Hailie Rochelle Deegan (2001-07-18) July 18, 2001 (age 23) Temecula, California, U.S.
Awards	2021–2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver

Hailie Deegan (born July 18, 2001) is an American racing driver. She is famous for competing in NASCAR stock car racing. Most recently, she drove the No. 15 Ford Mustang for AM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Hailie started her racing journey off-road and on dirt. In 2016, she switched to asphalt racing to chase a career in stock car racing. She began her NASCAR journey in 2018 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. She made history as the first female driver to win races in the West Series. This happened in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Hailie is the daughter of the well-known motorcycling star, Brian Deegan.

Starting in 2025, Hailie will try a new type of racing. She will move to open-wheel racing. She will drive the No. 38 car for HMD Motorsports in the Indy NXT series.

Off-Road Racing Adventures

Hailie racing in Pro Lite at Crandon in 2018.

Hailie began riding dirt bikes when she was seven years old. For her eighth birthday, she received a Trophy Kart. This gift started her journey in short course off-road racing. In 2009, she won her very first race in the SXS Stadium Series. She also competed in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS).

In 2013, Hailie made history. She became the first female driver to win a LOORRS championship. She won the Junior 2 Karts class that year. She continued to achieve success. In 2015, she became the Modified Kart Regional Champion. The next year, she won the Modified Kart National Champion title. She was also named the 2016 Lucas Oil Off Road Driver of the Year. Hailie raced full-time in the Pro Lite division of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in 2017. She is one of only four women to win a LOORRS class championship.

Even after moving to pavement racing, Hailie sometimes returned to off-road events. In December 2021, she raced in the Nitro Rallycross series. She competed in the side-by-side (SXS) support class. In March 2022, Hailie made her Mint 400 debut. She raced in the Unlimited Truck Spec class.

Asphalt Racing Journey

In 2016, Hailie started racing on asphalt. She drove legends cars for Rev Racing. This was her first step away from dirt tracks. In 2017, she made her asphalt late model debut. She competed in two CARS Super Late Model Tour races. These were at Tri-County Motor Speedway and Hickory Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Career Highlights

Hailie was part of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program in 2016. This program helps bring more diverse drivers into racing. The next year, she received the NASCAR Diversity Young Racer award. In May 2017, Hailie was chosen for the 2017 NASCAR Next class. She was the youngest member and the only woman. She also joined Toyota's driver development program.

2018: First K&N Pro Series Win

Hailie prepares for K&N Pro Series West practice at Sonoma Raceway.

On January 3, 2018, Hailie became a full-time driver. She joined Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) in the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. BMR had won the West Series championship for three years straight. She also raced part-time for McAnally in the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Hailie was the only female driver racing full-time in either K&N Series that year.

She debuted in the East Series at New Smyrna Speedway. She started ninth but had to stop early due to car problems. On March 15, Hailie made her West Series debut. She finished seventh at Kern County Raceway Park. Kevin Harvick, a NASCAR champion, was impressed. He said Hailie had "the most potential."

In May, Hailie was again named to the NASCAR Next class. She was still the only woman and the youngest member. She earned her first top-five finish on May 19. She finished fourth at Orange Show Speedway.

Hailie's last-lap move to win her first K&N West race.

At Sonoma, Hailie qualified third. She even received her high school diploma during driver introductions! She finished seventh in the race. This was her sixth top-ten finish in six West Series races. In her next race, she finished second. This tied the record for the best K&N Pro Series finish by a woman.

At the Dirt Track at Las Vegas, Hailie won the pole position. This made her the first woman in NASCAR history to win a pole at the K&N level. She led 13 laps and finished second. On September 29, Hailie made history again. She became the first woman to win a K&N Pro Series race. She won the 2018 NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208 at Meridian Speedway. Hailie passed her teammate Cole Rouse on the final lap. This was the only lap she led all race. Her win was only the second for a woman in a NASCAR touring series race. She ended 2018 by winning the Rookie of the Year award.

2019: More K&N Races and ARCA Debut

Hailie being interviewed before an ARCA Menards Series race.

Hailie returned to BMR in 2019. She continued her full and partial schedules in the K&N West and East Series. At the East season opener, she started from pole position. This was because qualifying was rained out. She led the first six laps but had car trouble again.

The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the West Series opener in 2019. Hailie earned her second K&N Pro Series win there. She made another last-lap pass to win.

On March 1, 2019, Hailie announced new plans. She would race in six events for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series. She made her ARCA debut at Toledo on May 19. She finished last after a crash. At Colorado National Speedway, Hailie got her third K&N West win. This win was a bit controversial. She spun out her teammate, Derek Kraus, on the last lap.

In August, Hailie joined the DGR-Crosley team. She raced for them at Bristol. She scored her first ARCA top-five finish in October. This was at Indianapolis Raceway Park. She ended the 2019 season with a fourth-place finish. This helped her finish third in the championship standings.

2020: Switching to Ford and Truck Series Debut

At the end of 2019, Hailie made a big change. She switched from Toyota to Ford's driver program. She signed a full-time ARCA Menards Series contract with DGR-Crosley. DGR-Crosley also moved to Ford. Hailie explained that Toyota had too many drivers and not enough spots. She felt Ford was the best choice for her long-term career.

At the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, Hailie was very fast. She finished second in the race. This tied the record for the best ARCA finish by a woman. She then had three seventh-place finishes. She finished third at Lucas Oil Raceway. This tied the record for the best finish by a woman on a short track.

Hailie finished third in the point standings for the season. She also won the Rookie of the Year award. On October 7, 2020, Hailie made her NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series debut. She raced for DGR-Crosley at Kansas. She finished 16th. This was the best result for a woman in a Truck Series debut.

2021: Full-Time in Truck Series

Hailie in the No. 1 truck at Daytona International Speedway in 2021.

On October 17, 2020, Ford Performance announced Hailie would race full-time. She would compete in the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Her team, DGR-Crosley, was renamed David Gilliland Racing. Her truck number, No. 1, was revealed in January 2021.

In August, she finished seventh at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. This was her first top-ten finish in the Truck Series. It was also the first time a woman achieved this outside of a superspeedway.

She ended the season 17th in points. Many races had no practice or qualifying due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hailie saw her rookie season as a "learning experience." She was voted the 2021 Truck Series Most Popular Driver.

2022: Xfinity Series Debut

On October 4, 2022, Hailie announced her next step. She would make her NASCAR Xfinity Series debut. She raced the No. 07 for SS-Green Light Racing at Las Vegas. She finished 13th. This was the best result for a woman in an Xfinity Series debut.

Hailie in the No. 13 truck at the Circuit of the Americas in 2023.

2024: Part-Time in Xfinity Series

Hailie's No. 15 car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024.

On October 5, 2023, Hailie signed a multi-year deal. She joined AM Racing to drive the No. 15 car. This started in the 2024 season. After some challenging races, AM Racing made a change. They replaced Hailie with champion Joey Logano for one race. The team faced difficulties throughout the season. On July 8, AM Racing and Hailie announced they would go their separate ways.

IMSA Racing

In 2020, Hailie also started racing in IMSA. She joined the Michelin Pilot Challenge with Multimatic Motorsports. She raced the season opener at Daytona with co-driver Chase Briscoe. They finished 43rd after mechanical problems. Hailie returned to the series later that year.

In 2022, she raced again in the Michelin Pilot Challenge at Daytona. She teamed up with Chase Briscoe once more.

Superstar Racing Experience

In 2021, Hailie joined the new Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). She finished second to Tony Stewart in her first race. This was at Knoxville Raceway. She also raced at Slinger Speedway and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

She returned to SRX in 2022. She competed in races at Stafford Motor Speedway and I-55 Raceway.

Open Wheel Racing

Indy NXT Series

On October 14, 2024, it was announced that Hailie Deegan would race in the Indy NXT series. She will drive the No. 38 car for HMD Motorsports. This new chapter begins in the 2025 season.

Driving Style on Track

Hailie Deegan is known for her bold moves on the racetrack. All three of her wins in the K&N Pro Series West involved contact with another car. In one race, she even spun out her teammate to win. Hailie has accepted her reputation as a determined driver. She says it comes from her family's background in motocross. She is focused on winning races.

In 2018, after her first win, she was penalized in another race. This was for contact with another driver. In her ARCA debut, she finished last after a crash. She said she was "done playing nice." Her driving style has sometimes led to disagreements with other racers.

Personal Life and Family

Hailie is the daughter of Brian Deegan. He is a famous motocross rider and X Games medalist. He also founded Metal Mulisha. Her younger brother, Haiden Deegan, is also a professional racer. He is an AMA supercross and motocross star. Her youngest brother, Hudson, also races motocross.

Hailie is in a relationship with dirt track racer and former NASCAR driver Chase Cabre. Chase was her co-driver in the 2022 Mint 400. On October 27, 2023, Hailie announced her engagement to Chase.

She went to Rancho Christian High School in her hometown of Temecula, California. Hailie now divides her time between California and Mooresville, North Carolina.

Motorsports Career Results

Career Summary

Off-road

Asphalt

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

Craftsman Truck Series

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

K&N Pro Series West

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series East

Superstar Racing Experience

(key) * – Most laps led. ¹ – Heat 1 winner. ² – Heat 2 winner.

^* SRX combined points from Deegan and Tony Kanaan in 2021.

American Open–Wheel Racing Results

Indy NXT

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with ^L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)