In 2019, Hailie Deegan experienced a surprising and intense encounter with NASCAR driver Todd Gilliland while driving on the Mooresville Freeway. The incident took place off the race track, catching Deegan off guard during her daily commute. The California native shared the story in an interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck, revealing an uncharacteristic clash amid their professional rivalry.
At the time, Deegan was enjoying a successful period, having secured back-to-back wins in the K&N Pro Series West. Meanwhile, Gilliland was competing full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series. Despite both occasionally racing in the ARCA Menards Series, their paths had yet to cross on the track until this unexpected moment on public roads.
“One time, Todd Gilliland — I was getting on the freeway in Mooresville and all of a sudden this guy in this Toyota, he goes and he like pinches me in the wall and I was like so mad, laid on the horn, and then Todd pokes his head out the window and I was like, ‘Oh my God’. I had no idea it was him. He knew it was me,” Hailie Deegan said via The Athletic.
Jeff Gluck responded:
“You were like, ‘Dude!’”
Deegan added:
“Yeah. I was mad.”
Progression of Hailie Deegan’s Racing Career After the Incident
Following her strong performances in the K&N Pro Series West, where she obtained two wins and eight top-five finishes, Deegan earned a full-time position in the 2020 ARCA Menards Series. This transition coincided with her switch from Toyota to Ford Performance, racing under the DGR-Crosley team.
Since then, Deegan has advanced through multiple racing series, competing in the NASCAR Truck Series and the Xfinity Series. However, in 2024, she made a notable change by stepping away from her seat with AM Racing. Now, at 23 years old, she focuses full-time on the INDY NXT series, driving for HMD Motorsports as she pursues her open-wheel racing ambitions.
Brian Deegan Explains Why Hailie Chose Indy NXT Instead of F1 Academy
Brian Deegan, Hailie’s father and a well-known motocross figure, recently discussed her decision to join the Indy NXT series rather than the F1 Academy, a female-only racing platform launched in 2023. While Brian initially encouraged Hailie to consider the F1 Academy as a promising opportunity, she opted to gain more open-wheel experience in Indy NXT before pursuing that option.
“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,” he said via Racer.com
Current Performance and Upcoming Race for Hailie Deegan in Indy NXT
Hailie Deegan’s rookie season in Indy NXT has been challenging, as she has yet to secure a top-10 finish in nine starts. Her teammate at HMD Motorsports, Caio Collet, has demonstrated stronger results, including a win at Road America. Most recently, Deegan finished 19th at Iowa Speedway, trailing by two laps in the standings with 119 points.
Looking ahead, Deegan will compete at the Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1, scheduled for July 26, with the race broadcast available on FS1 at 4:30 p.m. ET. This event in California presents an opportunity for her to improve her position and gain further momentum in her open-wheel career.