Hailie Deegan‘s mother, Marissa, posted a photo from a recent jet ski outing with her daughter, offering fans a glimpse into their downtime ahead of Hailie’s upcoming race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. This Hailie Deegan jet ski update comes as the young driver prepares for her next challenge on the track.
Hailie Deegan, 23, who formerly raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing, currently competes in the Indy NXT Series behind the wheel of the #38 car for HMD Motorsports. Through seven starts this season, she has yet to place in the top 10, holding 19th place overall with 94 points, trailing leader Dennis Hauger by 223 points. Her next race is set for July 6 at Mid-Ohio, following an 18th-place finish in her previous event.
Deegan Family’s Motorsport Background and Sibling Dynamics
Hailie’s racing journey comes alongside a family deeply involved in motorsports. Her brothers, Haiden and Hudson, compete professionally in motocross, while Hailie herself has transitioned from stock cars to open-wheel competition. Marissa’s Instagram story of their jet ski excursion, captioned with just four words, resonated with fans and highlighted the close bond between mother and daughter off the race circuit.
Brian Deegan Reflects on Hailie’s Career Path and F1 Academy Offer
Brian Deegan, Hailie’s father and an X Games gold medalist, revealed he encouraged her to explore the F1 Academy, an all-female formula racing series aimed at developing women drivers through exposure to Formula 1 environments. However, Hailie opted to continue gaining experience in the Indy NXT Series with HMD Motorsports instead of joining the F1 Academy.
Brian reflected on his conversations with his daughter after her departure from NASCAR, sharing:
“I’ve asked her if she really wants to continue racing or does she want to move on. She wants to race. Like I said, it’s a tough road, and it would be cool to see her get more support as a young female racer.” —Brian Deegan, Father and Motocross Rider
He also noted the potential value of the F1 Academy opportunity, stating:
“I really wanted her to go do the F1 Academy deal that they were doing with the girls there. I thought that was a cool opportunity. Maybe she will. I don’t know. She felt like she needed to get some more open-wheel seat time before she did that, which I agree. She just started in it. I think give her a season there and kind of see where she is at,” he added. —Brian Deegan, Father and Motocross Rider
The Role of F1 Academy in Developing Female Racers
The F1 Academy offers female drivers a pathway into formula racing by providing contracts up to two years in length, along with the chance to be part of the Formula 1 race weekends. This exposure is considered important for developing female talent in a male-dominated sport. While Hailie has chosen to focus on open-wheel racing in Indy NXT, this league acts as a stepping stone for drivers aiming to advance in the motorsport hierarchy.
Looking Ahead to Hailie’s Racing Season
As Hailie Deegan continues her rookie season in the Indy NXT Series, her recent off-track moments like the jet ski outing reveal a focused but grounded athlete preparing for the challenges ahead. With family support and her choice to build open-wheel experience first, she is positioning herself for future opportunities in racing. Fans and observers will be watching to see how her next races unfold and whether pathways like the F1 Academy could become part of her journey later on.