Hailie Deegan, the HMD Motorsports driver, recently shared insights on the demanding nature of racing on road courses in the Indy NXT series, highlighting how these tracks present more intense physical challenges compared to oval circuits. The 23-year-old American discussed her experiences during the qualifying session at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 14, emphasizing the importance of adapting to these difficulties.
Physical Demands of Road Courses Versus Ovals
Deegan explained that while she feels more comfortable on ovals, road courses push her physical limits significantly. Being relatively small in stature, she finds it difficult to endure the physical strain of road racing and has made adjustments to her car to better manage these demands. She acknowledged the difference in exertion, noting that the extended focus and physical resilience required on road courses are much greater than on ovals.
In her own words,
“Yeah the ovals, I think from my perspective, I’m not as strong as a lot of people out here. I think I’m pretty small person generally. So definitely the physical side of things have been so hard for me on the road courses, so I’ve changed few things with the car.”
—Hailie Deegan, HMD Motorsports driver
Seeking Guidance from Jamie Chadwick
To better cope with the challenges of road course racing, Deegan reached out to Jamie Chadwick, the 2024 Indy NXT champion who races for Andretti Global. Chadwick’s expertise in this area has provided valuable advice to Deegan, helping her enhance her approach and physical preparedness during events. Deegan reflected on how this mentorship has positively influenced her performance and confidence on road courses.
She said,
“I’ve actually been able to talk to Jamie Chadwick and pick her brain a little bit of things they did. And it definitely helped me along on the road courses. And I just feel like physically being able to hang on for long periods of time, so I feel like the ovals are way less physical than the road course. So I feel a little bit more comfortable. A little bit more in the game and especially being at a place like gateway where I’ve raced before.”
—Hailie Deegan, HMD Motorsports driver
Deegan’s Performance in the Current Indy NXT Season
During the qualifying run at World Wide Technology Raceway, Deegan briefly advanced to third place before eventually finishing tenth on the leaderboard. Earlier in the season, she qualified 21st in the opening race and made gains during the event due to a first-lap incident involving several competitors, ultimately finishing 14th.
Her subsequent race at Barber Motorsports Park ended with a 17th place finish from a 19th starting position. Throughout these events, Deegan showed steady progress as she adapts to the road courses’ physical and technical demands.
Transition from NASCAR to Indy NXT
Deegan shifted from stock car racing to open-wheel competition when sponsorship complications hindered her advancement in her previous series. While competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing, her best finish was 12th in the Ag-Pro 3000 Series, and she concluded the season ranked 23rd. This transition represents her effort to compete at a higher level and refine her racing skills within the Indy NXT series.
Building Confidence Through Interaction with Jamie Chadwick
In the lead-up to the Sonsio Grand Prix, Deegan shared how meeting Jamie Chadwick last year made it easier for her to seek guidance. She appreciated Chadwick’s honesty and willingness to share knowledge, which reassured Deegan as she worked to improve her performance on challenging road courses.
“My first ever Indy NXT race that I came to last year, I got to meet her and everything so she was very friendly which is awesome so I definitely felt comfortable reaching out to her and knew that she’s going to give me an honest answer something that I’ve been really working towards,”
Deegan said.
Current Standings and Future Outlook
At present, Hailie Deegan holds 18th place in the Indy NXT drivers‘ championship, accumulating 68 points so far. As she continues to gain experience and apply advice from accomplished drivers like Jamie Chadwick, Deegan aims to improve physically and strategically on demanding road circuits. Her journey reflects a determined effort to overcome obstacles and make a mark in the competitive Indy NXT series.
