Photo credit: Matt Fraver | Penske Entertainment

Despite the pressure to adapt quickly to open-wheel racing, Hailie Deegan is focused on building her skills every weekend she’s on track.

Deegan, 23, will be the highest-profile driver in Indy NXT next season after competing in the NASCAR Truck Series from 2021 to 2023. Prior to that, she worked her way up the oval racing ladder. Deegan has also cultivated a substantial social media following, with over 1.5 million followers on Instagram.

Her popularity has translated to fan engagement, as she won the NASCAR Truck Series’ Most Popular Driver Award in every season she competed full-time.

However, her transition to Indy NXT marks a fresh start. Speaking with outlets, including USOpenWheelNation, at Indy NXT’s Content Days on Tuesday, Deegan shared what led her to the series and her goals for the 2025 season.

Having never run a full season in an open-wheel series, Deegan approaches each testing weekend with a focus on learning.

And one thing is certain—she loves the environment she learns in.

“We’re all around the same age, and they’re awesome to get along with,” Deegan said regarding the team she works with. “I was super, super happy about that when I came to HMD to race for them, and I’ve got a good group of guys.”

One key member of that group is her race engineer, Matthew Perkins, who has been with HMD Motorsports since 2021. Their partnership has been instrumental in helping Deegan adapt to open-wheel cars, particularly the differences in tire performance compared to the NASCAR trucks she’s used to. While truck tires perform at their best immediately after being fitted, Deegan has had to adjust to the warm-up period required for Indy NXT tires.

“Matt has done a really good job coaching me through it,” Deegan said. “(He’ll say) ‘Okay, push a little bit harder this lap,’ or ‘This should be the money lap for these tires.’ I feel like we’ve been working great together on this and constantly progressing.”

In addition to testing sessions at tracks like Barber, Sebring, and Indianapolis, Deegan also got a taste of open-wheel racing during a one-off weekend in October, competing in the Formula Regional Americas Championship. The series has produced several quality drivers who advanced to Indy NXT, including 2023 FR Americas champion Callum Hedge.

In a field of 15 cars, Deegan finished 11th in her first race and 10th in her second, scoring a point.

“I really just wanted to see what it was like racing an open-wheel car,” Deegan said. “I didn’t want to go into St. Pete as my first race and try to figure it all out there.”

So far, Deegan has been at the bottom of the timesheets during tests, which isn’t surprising given her limited open-wheel experience. For context, Indy NXT is a significant jump for drivers transitioning from stock cars. Salvador de Alba, who finished fifth in Indy NXT last season, spent two years in the lower-tier USF Pro 2000 before advancing.

For Deegan, sponsorship limitations ruled out the option of starting lower on the open-wheel ladder. However, the new television contract with FOX allowed her to secure the funding needed for an Indy NXT campaign.

“I couldn’t run USF (Pro Championships) because no sponsor cares to pay for that when there’s not a great TV package,” Deegan said. “But when you have a great TV package, like FOX, it makes it a lot easier to sell.”

Financial constraints also blocked her path to continuing in NASCAR. Deegan joked during the press conference that she’d pursue a quality Xfinity Series ride if $6 million fell out of a tree.

For now, she’s starting fresh in Indy NXT with significantly less experience than the typical driver entering the series. Deegan acknowledges the steep learning curve ahead.

“I know it’s gonna take a little bit of time,” she said. “I’m not just gonna hop in and say, ‘I’m equal with you guys.’ They have a lot more experience than me.”

Still, she’s confident in her ability to rise to the challenge. Deegan has more tests ahead, including an upcoming session at Laguna Seca, before the season kicks off on March 2 at St. Petersburg. She’ll race as part of a seven-car HMD Motorsports lineup.

Fans can watch Hailie Deegan and the rest of the Indy NXT field in action at St. Petersburg at 10 a.m. Eastern on FOX Sports 1.