Before embarking on her NASCAR journey, Hailie Deegan followed in her father’s footsteps by competing in off-road.
She returned to that world at the start of the month, racing in the Side-by-Side class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus, where she raced alongside Mika and Kira Block, and Travis Pastrana, invoking memories of the X Games Rally Car Racing days when Brian Deegan, Ken Block, and Travis Pastrana were among the stars of the show.
“It’s definitely cool,” Deegan told RACER of her homecoming. “The Block kids are racing and they’re all great kids. We’re all here having fun, having a blast, and it’s a great time.
“It’s been really cool because I like coming here and racing UTVs, Can-Ams are great fun to drive, I drive them all the time at my house, so I haven’t really got away from dirt, but I’d say (I have) the racing side, so it’s good to be back.”
Deegan these days is of course known for her stints in NASCAR’s Truck and Xfinity series, but that didn’t mean her return to the dirt put her totally out of joint. Driving similar cars in her spare time stood her in good stead.
“I drive Can-Ams at the house, we have a track at our house so I feel like more so getting used to the Maverick R because it’s a little bit more new to me,” she said. “I usually drive an X, so I’m definitely getting used to that, the shifting, even though it’s automatic shifting, so kind of timing it all and all the different inputs.”
Deegan finished the first day of racing in Utah in fourth, but didn’t advance to the eight-car final on the second day, highlighting the highly-competitive nature of the SxS class which, as well as the Blocks and Pastrana, also includes the likes of rising off-road talents Kainan Baker, Gray Leadbetter, Cash LeCroy, and Mia Chapman.
“The cream always rises to the top. There’s always a fast couple of guys and I think it’s like that in all series,” Deegan said.
“This one’s pretty competitive too, especially since everyone’s been racing all year and I haven’t been here at all, so everyone’s got it all figured out.”
While Deegan is currently without a NASCAR seat after splitting with AM Racing in July, a full-time return to off-road is unlikely. And a move to Nitrocross’ premier Group E class, where her father raced four times last season is almost definitely not on the cards.
“I don’t think so, I’m not into electric stuff so I don’t know if I’d want to do that,” she said of the potential of racing in Nitrocross’ main game. “Plus I’ve never been into rallycross cars, that was always my Dad’s thing. I’ve never taken an interest in it, it’s just not my forte.”
As for NASCAR, that remains her main goal. Plans are in the works. “We’re working on stuff,” she says. “Just can’t say a whole lot right now.”