Hailie Deegan has openly expressed the difficulties she faces with the intense physical demands of racing in Indy NXT, the stepping stone series to IndyCar. After leaving NASCAR in 2024, the 24-year-old driver transitioned to open-wheel racing, where the physicality of the sport has tested her endurance and strength.
Deegan began her career professionally in 2018, competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, which later became the ARCA Menards Series, driving for Bill McAnally Racing. Over the years, she broadened her experience across various forms of racing, including the NASCAR Truck Series and the SRX series, before landing a drive in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing in 2024. However, midway through the season, her partnership with AM Racing ended unexpectedly, leaving her without a full-season ride.
Following that, Deegan explored opportunities in open-wheel racing, participating in a few events within Formula Regionals and testing with HMD Motorsports for a seat in Indy NXT for the 2025 campaign. She ultimately signed a contract but quickly realized that adapting to Indy NXT’s demands would be challenging. Unlike NASCAR, Indy NXT cars lack power steering, which makes the physical effort to control them far greater, especially on road and street circuits.
In a recent discussion on the Off Track with Hinch and Rossi podcast, co-hosted by IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi, Deegan described how taxing certain tracks have been for her physically. She said:
“Obviously, the road courses are very hard. Barber (the track that hosts the Grand Prix of Alabama, where Deegan had a P17 result) was bad for me. Like physically, okay, I’m not that far off when we get to practice or qualifying. Whatever it is, I’ll be okay, not bad. But like the longevity for me, I’m dying.”
—Hailie Deegan, Indy NXT Driver
“Like after practice, for the second practice, I’m back at the Airbnb with my hands in an iced bowl of water, just trying to get some sort of strength back because I was just like dying in pain and so… from just being sore. So I think tracks like those were hard,”
—Hailie Deegan, Indy NXT Driver
Earlier this year, after trying out Indy NXT machinery, Deegan noted that NASCAR had been
“one of the most unphysical forms of racing”
she had experienced, highlighting the striking contrast.
Challenges Beyond Physical Endurance Affecting Deegan’s Indy NXT Performance
Deegan’s struggles in Indy NXT extend beyond simply managing the demanding physical workload. Her rookie season has been difficult, with qualifying and finishing towards the back of the pack in most races. With just two events remaining this season—Milwaukee and Nashville ovals—she remains in last place among full-time participants in the championship standings.
A contributing factor to her performance issues is her relative lack of experience on road and street circuits. Throughout her NASCAR career, particularly in the Xfinity Series, she primarily competed on oval tracks, leaving her less prepared for the different racing styles required by Indy NXT’s road courses. This limitation has influenced her ability to fully contend during races.
In addition to physical limitations, Deegan has chosen a cautious approach during her rookie year, prioritizing learning and avoiding overly aggressive maneuvers that could lead to crashes. This strategy was partly to protect the finances of her team, HMD Motorsports, by minimizing costly damages. Her focus on gaining experience instead of forcing rapid progress has contributed to a conservative race pace compared to some rivals.
What Deegan’s Experiences Mean for Her Future in Open-Wheel Racing
Hailie Deegan’s candid revelations about the physical and technical hurdles she faces underline the steep learning curve drivers encounter when switching from stock car racing to open-wheel competition. Her endurance issues and inexperience on road circuits highlight the unique demands of Indy NXT, which requires both strength and versatile driving skills.
Despite these challenges, her decision to persist and adapt could pave the way for improvement in coming seasons. Successfully overcoming the physical strain and expanding her road racing capabilities might allow Deegan to become more competitive, potentially attracting further opportunities within the IndyCar ladder system.
As Deegan continues to gain experience, her progress will be closely watched by fans and analysts eager to see if she can transform early struggles into steady growth amid Indy NXT’s physically relentless environment.