For decades, stock car racing was a world built for speed. And for the longest time, it was also built for men. Names like Sara Christian, the first woman to start a NASCAR race in 1949, and pioneering talents like Janet Guthrie and Patty Moise cracked open the doors. More recently, Danica Patrick captured mainstream attention, becoming a household name far beyond the track.
But despite these breakthroughs, female representation in NASCAR has remained scarce. Which makes it all the more meaningful when a young star like Hailie Deegan steps up to the microphone and speaks from the heart. In a sport where opportunity’s limited and expectations are high, Deegan recently let slip the true reason behind her relentless drive. Well, it’s bigger than trophies.
Hailie Deegan wants to inspire the future
Hailie Deegan’s journey in racing began early, fueled by a family legacy and her own determination. Growing up in California, she started riding dirt bikes at age seven, quickly moving into off-road racing. By the time she was a teenager, Deegan had already become the first female to win a Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series championship, setting the tone for her ambitious career.
Transitioning from dirt to pavement, Deegan made her mark in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, where she became the only female to win races in the series. Her early victories proved she could compete with the best, inspiring young girls who dreamed of racing. Deegan credits her father, motocross legend Brian Deegan, as a key influence and motivator throughout her career. While Deegan’s NASCAR stint with AM Racing in the Xfinity Series did not go to plan, after parting ways in the middle of the season in 2024, she looks to a new challenge at IndyNXT, showing that it doesn’t matter where she is racing, as long as she is!
Deegan’s idols include trailblazers like Danica Patrick, the first woman to win a pole in a Cup Series race at the Daytona 500 in 2013. However, Deegan is determined to carve her own path. She’s quick to point out the unique hurdles women face in motorsports in a video on her YouTube channel. “It’s wild. There’s not many girls out there at all. So, trying to represent the females in the sport, and showing other girls it’s possible is awesome,” Deegan said, highlighting the rarity of female competitors at the top levels. And she’s right. The numbers tell the same story. Only a handful of women have secured full-time NASCAR rides. The few who did, like Shawna Robinson and Janet Guthrie, fought uphill battles every step of the way. For her, being a visible presence is about showing other girls what’s possible.
HAMPTON, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 23: Hailie Deegan, driver of the #15 AirBox Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 23, 2024 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Danica Patrick set the bar high for modern female racers. With multiple top-10 finishes and temper-filled altercations on and off the track, Patrick emphasized what it meant to be a female racing in a sport dominated by men. She eventually retired from full-time racing in 2018 and shifted to broadcasting after. The end of her career was marked with DNFs and a lack of top finishes, but it will never take away from her achievements as a female racer. To do what she did takes a lot of skill and struggle, and Hailee Deegan is aware of that.
Hailie Deegan was honest about the toll it takes. “It is definitely super hard, super physical, and so it’s definitely a challenge,” she explained. NASCAR races, such as the Truck Series, regularly push drivers to their physical limits, with in-cab temperatures over 120°F and no power steering. Then, there’s the struggle to earn respect from crew members and competitors. Female drivers like Hailie Deegan often need to prove themselves twice over to be taken seriously. For Deegan, it’s another reason she refuses to back down.
Despite it all, her love for racing shines through. “But I love it,” she smiled. That simple line captures what keeps her buckling in week after week. It’s passion, grit, and the hope that every lap she runs might inspire the next generation of girls to believe they belong out there too.
The Deegans’ trip to the Big Apple
The Deegan family recently took a memorable trip to New York City, blending media appearances with family bonding. Siblings Hailie and Haiden Deegan appeared together on FOX & Friends for National Sibling Day, discussing their motorsports careers and the family’s passion for racing. It was the first time the entire family was featured on national news together, a proud moment for them.
Brian Deegan, their father and a legendary figure in action sports, reflected on the busy weekend. “That was the first time we’ve been on the news together as a family,” Brian said. “We watch FOX News…so it’s cool to be on it.” He appreciated the opportunity to promote Supercross and Indy NXT while spending quality time with his kids. Brian noted how important it is to balance racing ambitions with family values and faith, calling family the most important thing in life.
After their New York media engagements, the Deegans headed to Philadelphia for Haiden’s Supercross race, where he finished second and extended his championship lead. Hailie Deegan will hit the track for her NXT IndyCar race on May 4 in Birmingham, Alabama. Haiden lines up May 3 in Denver, Colorado, aiming to stretch his championship lead and chase his first AMA Supercross title. Meanwhile, Brian Deegan proudly supports all three of his kids as they chase their dreams on and off the track.
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