The potential return of Hailie Deegan to MHR in 2026 has caught many off guard, as few anticipated this pairing resurging. In recent years, MHR has evolved from a team that regularly finished mid-pack and barely qualified for playoffs to showcasing standout performances, such as with Eckes having one of the most remarkable Truck Series seasons ever. The prospect of a Hailie Deegan MHR return raises questions about whether this renewed alignment could reignite her career trajectory.
Deegan’s Recent Performance and Challenges in Various Racing Series
Lately, Deegan has been competing in the Indy NXT series, where she achieved her best result—11th place at Laguna Seca—approximately a month ago. While this marked an improvement, it was still far from a breakthrough on a team that finished second in the championship. This performance suggests Deegan might be ready to abandon her Indy NXT venture and revisit the Truck Series, where she initially built her reputation despite struggles at higher-tier NASCAR levels.
Her previous Truck Series stint was with Thorsport, a championship-winning team, though she only managed two top-ten finishes. Her subsequent foray into the Xfinity Series with AM ended abruptly mid-season after failing to secure any top-ten finishes. Meanwhile, AM without Deegan secured 21 top-ten placements over the next two seasons and advanced to the playoffs with driver Harrison Burton. On MHR’s side, despite being less consistent than during Eckes’s tenure, drivers Hemric and Ankrum have recorded a win apiece and made the playoffs, though the team appears divided in performance.
Connor Mosack, a full-time rookie, currently ranks 14th in points with three top-ten finishes but no top-fives, whereas part-time driver Jack Wood stands 19th with a single top ten. MHR’s uneven results and apparent difficulty in elevating drivers with previously uncertain records raise doubts about whether it is the right environment for Deegan’s development. Consequently, some question whether NASCAR remains the best platform for her at this stage of her career.
Uncertainty Surrounding Deegan’s Potential Contract with MHR
There has been no formal confirmation or extensive reporting about Deegan’s future plans or any re-signing with MHR. While credible sources have touched on the possibility, the issue remains speculative, compounded by the lack of rumors regarding her intentions with HMD or any other teams apart from MHR. Deegan fits the driver profile MHR values—similar to Mosack, Wood, and Ankrum—mainly because she brings sponsorship support, an essential factor in team decisions.
Evaluating Whether a Deegan Return to MHR Would Benefit Both Parties
Considering Deegan’s past performance and mindset challenges, a return to MHR appears questionable. At Thorsport, early setbacks, including an incident following a promising 5th-place qualifying, seemed to trigger a shift in her approach that negatively affected her competitiveness. Rich Lushes, her crew chief at Thorsport, shared in an interview with Sirius XM that he expected Deegan to adopt a more aggressive driving style.
“He urged his driver to be more aggressive and urgent after she had already fallen from 5th to 23rd by the end of stage 1, and multiple times after this.” ?Rich Lushes, Crew Chief
However, during the first race in Las Vegas that season, Deegan’s reluctance to fight back when pressured early set the tone for the rest of her year. Facing a three-wide situation involving Homles and teammate Rhodes, she neither made contact nor attempted to maneuver aggressively, instead choosing to hold her line and gradually lose positions. This contrasted sharply with earlier in her career, particularly in ARCA West, where she earned comparisons to Dale Sr. for race-winning passes made late in events through aggressive moves.
“Compare that to when she was getting Dale Sr. comparisons in her ARCA West race today after she won all of her races by passing someone late in the race.” ?Analyst (unattributed)
Unless Deegan addresses this shift from an assertive racer to a more passive driver, she risks continuing her pattern of underperformance as seen in 2023.
Implications of a Possible Return and What Matters Going Forward
If Deegan does rejoin MHR, it could mark a significant attempt to revive her NASCAR career in a familiar yet evolving team environment. However, given MHR’s inconsistent results this season and difficulties enhancing driver performance, success is uncertain. For Deegan, the decision involves weighing the prospects of regaining competitive form against previous setbacks in the Truck and Xfinity series.
Ultimately, the outcome of this potential Hailie Deegan MHR return in 2026 could influence both her future career path and MHR’s driver lineup strategy. Whether this proves to be a fresh start or another challenging endeavor remains to be seen as the racing season progresses and contract decisions become clearer.
