Hailie Deegan bounces back after AM Racing split as Xfinity talks with Haas heat up

Hailie Deegan is back to business after her recent split with the Xfinity outfit AM Racing. Deegan raced in a Trans Am race at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut, on July 20, while her future NASCAR plans are shaping up.

The SpeedTour All-Star Race at Lime Rock Park was a star-studded event featuring 20 legendary drivers paired with 20 current drivers from the Trans Am series. Former NASCAR drivers such as Bobby Labonte, Greg Biffle, Ron Hornaday Jr., and Ken Schrader, among others, were part of the event.

Deegan teamed up with Ben Maier, driving the #80 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang. She qualified sixth for the event in the TA2 Series car. On race day, Deegan and Maier split their time behind the wheel of the #80 Ford Mustang during the 60-minute race, ultimately finishing sixth at the checkered flag.

Deegan shared snaps from her eventful weekend on Instagram with the following caption:

"Weekend dump. Had a blast at Lime Rock racing. Ended up 6th overall! @monsterenergy"

Hailie Deegan parted ways with AM Racing after the Chicago Street Race, where she was replaced by two-time Cup champion Joey Logano. Her rookie campaign in the Xfinity Series came to an early end halfway through the season.

Deegan was later spotted at the IndyCar race weekend at Iowa Speedway. Her visit to the event sparked speculation about a possible switch to open-wheel racing. However, recent reports indicate that the Haas Xfinity team is interested in bringing Deegan into the fold.

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Exploring Haas Factory Team executive's comments on Hailie Deegan

Following Tony Stewart's exit, Stewart-Haas Racing will be restructured as the Haas Factory Team, fielding a single entry in the Cup Series. The team will continue to field two cars in the Xfinity Series. Current Xfinity driver Cole Custer was announced to drive for the Haas Cup team next season, opening up a seat in the Xfinity Series.

Team President Joe Custer recently addressed Hailie Deegan's free agency, stating that the team believes she has more potential than her results indicate. Custer explicitly mentioned that the team is interested in bringing her into the organization.

"Obviously, she was with one of our technical partners. So that's a challenge, right, to see what the future is with her. We believe there's more in her, and we want to be part of that, but that's for future conversations," he was quoted by motorsport.com.

Joe Custer also said that HFT is interested in Cup and Xfinity drivers of winning caliber, who can take the team to victory lane. He stressed that winning races is crucial for the team and its technical partners in the Xfinity Series.