“Keep your head up” - Fans show support to Hailie Deegan after her major announcement on NASCAR career

The NASCAR fanbase has rallied behind Hailie Deegan after she announced parting ways with her Xfinity Series team. The AM Racing driver entered her rookie Xfinity season but after being unable to align with her team's goals, the Temecula native broke the news.

Deegan entered the NASCAR scene as a Truck Series driver, with her first race at the 2020 Clean Harbors 200 hosted by the Kansas Speedway. She's in her fifth NASCAR and first full-time Xfinity season and fields the #15 Ford for AM Racing.

Before joining hands with the Statesville-based outfit for contesting her rookie year in the Xfinity Series, Deegan ran a single race for SS Green Light Racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. She finished 13th and marked the best-ever finish by a female NASCAR driver on her Xfinity debut.

As a result, her prospects to shine bright during her rookie season were high. However, Deegan couldn't emulate her dominant debut run on the 2024 calendar and is yet to bag a top-10 finish, let alone a top-5 or a podium place. Moreover, her #15 Ford has succumbed to 3 DNFs, adding misery to her subpar season.

Thus, shortly after the Chicago Race weekend got done and dusted, Deegan announced parting ways with AM Racing, effective immediately, and penned a long note on X:

"I worked hard to prepare for this season after the team pursued me to drive their car. Unfortunately, it has not turned out the way that I expected. There are always several reasons within a race team as to why things do or do not work, but sadly our goals no longer align. With that being said, myself and AM Racing will be parting ways," an excerpt from her message read.

Deegan's note quickly gained traction and the fanbase came forward to support her.

"Keep your head up and keep grinding. Good luck!" one fan commented.

"Good morning hailie. So sorry to hear this but the positive is wanting to see you succeed. You'll find that success and a team that will help you with that goal 🙏🙏" another fan wrote.

"I’d honestly like to see you succeed. Good luck," one fan added.

"Sorry to read this. We’ll be here to support you and whichever team is smart enough to hire you!" another fan concurred.

This fan suggested Hailie Deegan retry at the ARCA Series where she has bagged three wins.

"Get back in an ARCA car and win some races," the fan wrote.

Another fan advised the AM Racing driver to look for a seat with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing.

"My advice, try to put your money towards 5-8 or 10 Xfinity races with @JRMotorsports or @JoeGibbsRacing," the fan opined.

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"We are grateful"- AM Racing team thanked Hailie Deegan for her efforts

Since stepping into NASCAR in 2019, Hailie Deegan has been under Ford’s driver development program. After churning out five top-10s during her three-year full-time stint in the Truck Series, she inked a multi-year deal with AM Racing.

However, Deegan's footing in her rookie season failed to produce a promising output. From 17 races so far, she has averaged a finish of 26.82 and has placed her #15 Ford in the top 20 four times. Moreover, she sat out during the Loop 110 Xfinity race on the Chicago Street Course and AM Racing's part-time driver Joey Logano replaced her.

While Deegan struggled to collect a solitary top-10 finish from her 17 attempts, the two-time Cup Series champion came home with the team's best finish this season on his first Xfinity run of the year. The Connecticut native bagged an eighth-place finish.

After Deegan's revelation on X, AM Racing also stated the multi-year deal's termination and issued a parting statement:

“AM Racing and Hailie Deegan have decided to part ways, effective immediately. We are grateful for Hailie’s contributions and dedication as the driver of the No. 15 Ford Mustang during her time with the race team. We wish Hailie the best in her future endeavors and look forward to her continued success on and off the track,” the message read via NASCAR.

Hailie Deegan will now look for another team to offer her a ride and help her return to Xfinity racing.