“I’m a pissed off cryer”: Hailie Deegan makes her “reassurance” known amid her former NASCAR team’s recent downfall

Former NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan recently expressed her feelings about her former team's recent performances. The daughter of motocross legend Brian Deegan, she is one of the most popular drivers in the sport.

Hailie Deegan was piloting the #15 Ford for AM Racing in her rookie full-time season in the Xfinity Series. However, as the season progressed, she did not secure a better finish than P12 in 17 races. Eventually, Deegan and AM Racing parted ways reportedly because of her underwhelming performances.

In a recent episode of The Kenny Wallace Show, hosted by former Cup Series driver Kenny Wallace, Deegan was asked how she felt about the current situation of the #15 team in the Xfinity Series (via X, formerly Twitter)

"I went back and I looked at that #15 NASCAR Xfinity car that you used to drive. The last three races, they have finished 27th, 27th, and 33rd[...]When I just tell you when that car runs the way it runs, what do you think?" Wallace asked

Hailie Deegan confidently responded to Wallace's question. She said:

"I think there's some sort of reassurance. I can't tell you how many nights like, when I flew back on the team planes, like wanting to just break down crying. And I'm not a cryer like I'm a pissed-off cryer, like I'm crying, it's because I'm mad. Like how many nights I just wanted to like beat my head against the wall, like didn't know what to do because of stuff that was out of my control."

Following her untimely and surprising exit from the sport, Hailie Deegan has now landed a seat in the IndyCar NXT Series, competing full-time with HMD Motorsports. Shifting to open-wheel racing might be a good change for the Temecula native.

Meanwhile, Cup Series driver Harrison Burton is set to join AM Racing to pilot their #15 Ford in 2025.

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"So surreal": Hailie Deegan makes her feelings known after debut Indy NXT stint

Hailie Deegan recently shed light on her debut in the IndyCar NXT Series at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Deegan will pilot the #38 entry for HMD Motorsports for the 14-race schedule in the NXT Series.

After her test run, Deegan, who completed nearly 67 laps, spoke with Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass and expressed her views on the opportunity to compete in an open-wheel racing format following her controversial exit from NASCAR.

"First time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in general, so it's definitely a lot to take in all at once. These cars are very, very fun to drive, very different from what I’m used to. I drove an open-wheel car one other time, so this is definitely a lot to take in," Deegan said.

"This track is so iconic, so surreal. There’s so much history that has happened here. Just to be here, driving, testing, practicing, it’s great. The open-wheel side has so many different nuances to this world in itself. There’s so much more data and resources to go off of. I think learning how to utilize things to their fullest potential is what I'm going to have to learn," she added.

The NXT schedule is not just limited to ovals and will also feature several races on road courses in 2025.