Hailie Deegan 'finding the limits' as off-season grind continues ahead of rookie Indy NXT season

Former NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan announced in October that she will be racing in the Indy NXT series for the 2025 season with HMD Motorsports. Deegan is focused on making her Indy NXT debut as she continues to practice in open-wheel racing cars. She uploaded a video on her YouTube channel as she detailed her practice plan at the Sebring International Raceway.

Deegan said (via her YouTube video titled ‘Off-season grid continues… Testing at Sebring’):

“We are at Sebring Raceway. I've raced here before in IMSA. I raced on the big track. But I'm gonna be in the FR car in one of the USF classes and so pretty much just getting laps comfortable. We come here next month to go test the NXT car. Because the last time I was here was six years ago and I don't remember any of this place. So I definitely have some learning to do.” (1:03 onwards)

Deegan then had a whole day of running in the FR car and was prepared to find the limits of the machine the next day. She said:

“So we did some laps yesterday. I felt like I got up to speed pretty good, learned the track, which was my goal for this test. But now, since I have a whole another day, I really want to focus on pushing myself more. Really like pushing and finding that limit, getting my roll speed up in the center of the corner. I feel like my entries are fine. I drive into the right spot in the corner, but I really need to work on just rolling the center.”

Deegan also posted updates about the FR car test on Instagram. She was at the Sebring International Raceway with the Toney Driver Development team.

Deegan drove for this team in the Formula Regional Americas Championship in the final two races of the 2024 season. The FR championship opportunity was the first time that Deegan drove an open-wheel racing car.

Toney Driver Development also posted updates about Hailie Deegan's test on Instagram. The account posted a picture of the FR car that the 2025 Indy NXT driver drove with the caption:

“Winter testing continues with @hailiedeegan back in the #framericas car is preparing for 2025.”

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“Taking the move to open-wheel racing seriously”: HMD Team President on Hailie Deegan's move from stock car to open-wheel racing

Hailie Deegan is the daughter of motocross rider Brian Deegan. The Deegan name is big in the motorsports community. Just like her father, she started racing in the dirt. After a few years in the LOORR (Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series), she moved to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and Truck Series in 2017.

Deegan made her open-wheel racing debut in 2024 and is going to be racing in IndyCar NXT next year. HMD Motorsports Team President Mike Maurini said about her move (via hmdmotorsports.com):

"Hailie, and especially the Deegan name, are huge in motorsports, and we welcome them to the HMD Motorsports family. Hailie has already been out to the shop and is taking the move to open-wheel racing seriously. She is looking for a place in the Indianapolis area to be immersed with the team and is already working with her engineer.”

The 23-year-old participated in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the IMS a few days after she was announced as the 2025 Indy NXT driver for HMD Motorsports. Deegan completed a total of 67 laps with her fastest time being 1:18:9038.