Hailie Deegan’s switch from NASCAR to Indy NXT in 2025 aimed to mark a fresh chapter, shifting from stock car racing to the intricacies of open-wheel competition. However, rather than revitalizing her trajectory, the move has led to mounting difficulties and growing frustration among fans and observers, fueled by a series of underwhelming results throughout her rookie season.
Through the first 11 rounds of the Indy NXT by Firestone championship, Deegan ranks at the bottom of the full-time drivers’ list, with no top-ten finishes and a points total that trails behind even part-time competitors. Despite some minor improvement, such as an 11th-place finish at Laguna Seca, her average pace consistently falls nearly a second behind the midfield leaders, raising questions about whether this transition will prove to be a career misjudgment.
Background: Deegan’s Varied Racing Experience Before Indy NXT
Deegan’s racing beginnings were rooted in off-road events, where she showed prowess in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. She made history in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West with multiple wins and podium finishes before advancing to more challenging tiers. Between 2018 and 2019, she became the first female to claim victory in the K&N Pro Series West, securing three wins and ten top-five results.
Her progression continued with stints in the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Truck Series, where while she collected several top-10 finishes, victories proved elusive. In 2024, Deegan embarked on a partial NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule. The following year’s shift to Indy NXT was her first engagement with open-wheel racing, a move that surprised many given the typical flow of drivers in motorsports.
Fan Frustration Mounts Over Deegan’s Performance in Indy NXT
Deegan’s rookie campaign in open-wheel racing has faced increasing criticism from fans, especially on social media platforms and dedicated forums. Conversations reflect skepticism, with many expressing disappointment over her consistent placement at the back of the grid and questioning her competitiveness within a highly demanding series.
She’s last in points of anyone that’s competed in all the races. I’d say that’s not very successful.
—Anonymous fan comment
Despite access to comprehensive race weekends, practice, testing data, and a full season schedule, Deegan has been outpaced by part-time drivers and fellow newcomers. While rookies like Myles Rowe and Kiko Porto are showing steady progress, she remains entrenched towards the rear, leading some to believe she has hit a performance plateau rather than gradually improving.
Challenges of Transitioning to a Highly Competitive Open-Wheel Field
Many fans acknowledge Deegan’s courage in attempting a completely different racing discipline but express unease over the lack of results against an elite lineup. Indy NXT features drivers honed on technical road courses, often with backgrounds in European-style karting and junior formulas. This environment places enormous demands on adaptability, racecraft, and precision, areas where Deegan’s relative inexperience has been exposed.
I applaud her willingness to try a discipline she’s completely unfamiliar with…but yeah it’s going about as well as you could expect. Especially when you have prominent F2 veterans in the field.
—Reddit user comment
Her qualifying and race laps consistently fall short when compared to the field, sometimes by nearly a full second, indicating more than just adjustment issues. Even when mechanical setbacks and race incidents are not a factor, Deegan struggles to match the pace necessary to compete effectively in Indy NXT.
Comparisons With Peers Highlight the Depth of Deegan’s Struggles
Comparisons with drivers like Louis Foster and Bryce Aron, who have similar or fewer race starts, often deepen fan worries. Both have managed to secure higher points standings and occasional top-10 finishes, intensifying the perception that Deegan is underperforming relative to her counterparts given her experience and resources.
There are two drivers with less starts than H.D. that are higher in the points standings if that gives a clue.
—Anonymous fan comment
The growing gap between Deegan and her peers exacerbates doubts about her ability to develop within open-wheel racing, stirring contentious debate around her potential longevity in the sport.
The Debate: Strategic Career Move or Costly Mistake?
Among critics, skepticism has intensified, with some drawing parallels to other drivers whose career longevity was maintained more by marketing than by competitive results. Comparisons to Cody Ware, a driver known for extensive Cup Series participation despite limited success, underline fan doubts about the motivations and merits behind Deegan’s seat placement.
Having expectations for Deegan is like having expectations for Cody Ware. It’s a business decision.
—Anonymous fan comment
This viewpoint suggests that Deegan’s marketability and sponsorship may be outweighing on-track performance, prompting frustration that her continued presence may impede driver meritocracy and development within the series.
Calls for Career Realignment as Fan Patience Wanes
While some fans hope Deegan remains in motorsports, many urge her to return to disciplines where she has demonstrated competitive strength. Suggestions include a return to dirt racing, where she previously achieved victories, or exploring endurance racing paths and female-focused teams such as Iron Dames in Europe.
Hailie Deegan needs to go dirt racing… The open wheel experiment hasn’t worked.
—Online fan comment
This sentiment reflects a desire for Deegan to leverage her past successes in off-road and other series rather than continue struggling in an environment where she appears less suited to excel.
Wider Implications for Deegan’s Motorsport Future
Hailie Deegan’s Indy NXT tenure has generated significant discussion across the racing community, spotlighting the challenges of cross-discipline transitions and the high stakes of performance expectations at this level. Her situation recalls that of drivers like Natalie Decker, whose careers were similarly marked by commercial appeal but questioned for on-track results.
As Deegan’s current struggle defines public perception, her next steps—whether returning to familiar racing grounds, switching to endurance series, or recommitting to open-wheel development—may prove pivotal in shaping her long-term career. The coming months will be critical for her to restore confidence among fans and demonstrate that her choice to embrace Indy NXT was a strategic evolution rather than a misstep.