[autotag]Hailie Deegan[/autotag]’s status with AM Racing is up in the air. On Monday morning, AM Racing announced that Joey Logano will replace Deegan ahead of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Chicago Street Course. It was a surprising move that made her ineligible for the playoffs. AM Racing made the decision to evaluate the current performance of the cars.
However, will Deegan return to the No. 15 Xfinity car? It has been a very rough rookie season in the Xfinity Series, as Deegan only has four top-20 finishes through 17 races in 2024. Compared to 2023, when Brett Moffitt finished 15th in the point standings, it has been a disappointing year that led to Logano driving the No. 15 car this weekend.
In the press release, AM Racing didn’t say that Deegan would return to Pocono Raceway on July 13. It seems like more will be known following the race weekend in Chicago. If Deegan doesn’t return to AM Racing, she can move forward in a few directions. One of them is taking her money to a competitive team for a part-time schedule to prove herself.
The Champ is in the House đ@joeylogano will pilot the No. 15 @KlutchSpirits Ford Mustang this weekend @NASCARChicago in the @NASCAR_Xfinity Series The Loop 110!
Read more below âŹď¸ https://t.co/xt6hCppG6x pic.twitter.com/2vjGbVKSSq
— AM Racing (@AMRacingNASCAR) July 1, 2024
For example, Deegan could drive part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing, and her performance would solidify her future. Another option could be returning to the NASCAR Truck Series, but she didn’t have much success over the last few years. Finally, the other option is to join a racing series outside NASCAR and see if she flourishes better elsewhere.
Yet, it all comes down to AM Racing’s decision. Will Deegan return to the No. 15 Xfinity car, or has she competed for the last time? The 22-year-old driver’s future is murky, but some questions should be answered over the next week. Deegan’s struggles have put her in a tough spot, and the next move might be career-defining if she continues in NASCAR.
[lawrence-related id=14722]