Hailie Deegan, now competing in the Indy NXT series, praised the coaching support of Nolan Siegel following her first open-wheel race after transitioning from NASCAR. Deegan acknowledged Siegel, an Arrow McLaren driver, for helping her prepare ahead of her debut in the Formula Regional Americas championship in November 2024.
The 2024 shift marked a significant turning point for Deegan, who ended her stock car racing career after the Tennessee Lottery 250 in Nashville on June 29. She made her open-wheel debut at the renowned Circuit of the Americas, racing for the Tony Driver Development team.
Insights from Deegan’s Formula Regional Americas Experience
During her initial racing weekend in Formula Regional Americas, Deegan documented her experience and openly credited Nolan Siegel for his coaching assistance. Sharing on her official YouTube channel, she explained Siegel’s helpful role:
“I did get really lucky this race, so Nathan, who owns this team and is doing this race with us, his driver that he crewed last year at the beginning of the year was Nolan Siegel. So, he’s out here, he races IndyCar full-time, and he is out here helping me look at the data, coach me, so I definitely have like one of the best coaches I feel like in the pits right now, so that does help.” —Hailie Deegan
Deegan showed steady progress, finishing 11th in Round 1 and improving to 10th in Round 2 at the Circuit of the Americas event, demonstrating rapid adaptation to open-wheel racing challenges.
Deegan’s Reflections on Her 2025 Indy NXT Campaign with HMD Motorsports
Beyond her initial open-wheel outings, Deegan expressed enthusiasm about her 2025 involvement in the Indy NXT series with the HMD Motorsports team. She began this chapter at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2, where she finished 14th, marking her official debut in the category.
“I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to working with a proven program in HMD Motorsports. I have much to learn, but I am ready to go. The team brings a wealth of knowledge for me to pull from, and I look forward to soaking up as much of that as possible before my race debut next March in St. Petersburg” —Hailie Deegan
Currently, after seven rounds into the season, Deegan stands 19th in the Indy NXT points table with 94 points. While she has yet to break into the top five or top ten in any race, her determination remains undeterred as she continues to gain experience.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Indy NXT Events
Deegan and her team now turn their focus to the upcoming Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio, a key event in the Indy NXT calendar. The three-day event is set to begin on July 4, with the feature race scheduled for July 6. This race will offer another vital opportunity for Deegan to improve her standings and showcase the skills nurtured with Nolan Siegel’s coaching support and the expertise of HMD Motorsports.
