Kevin Harvick, Mamba Smith explain outlook for Hailie Deegan transition to IndyCar

Hailie Deegan is ready to try her hand at open-wheel racing, announcing last Monday she will compete in Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports in 2025.

Deegan, 23, has given it a go on dirt, as well as in the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series, but is making the transition to a different form of racing with her career at a crossroads. Kevin Harvick, speaking on Tuesday’s “Happy Hour” podcast, said he believes it will be a “tough transition” for Deegan in Indy NXT, the IndyCar development series.

“I think it’s gonna be a tough transition because it’s a completely different car,” Harvick said. “I don’t know much about the Indy NXT program and everything that goes with that, but I’m glad that hopefully she’s happy and being able to race and do something that she’s enjoying.”

Deegan showed promise as an up-and-comer in the Toyota driver development program, making her ARCA Menards Series debut in 2018. She flipped to Ford ahead of the 2020 season, finishing third in the points standings that season. Three years of mixed results in the Truck Series followed her standout 2020 campaign and led her to the Xfinity Series in 2024, piloting the No. 15 car for AM Racing.

Deegan found life in the Xfinity Series to be difficult, failing to record a top 10 finish in 17 starts. AM Racing replaced her with Joey Logano for the Chicago Street Race, and then parted ways with her the following week.

Kevin Harvick pinpoints reason for why Hailie Deegan struggled in NASCAR

As for why her NASCAR career went sideways after an encouraging start, Harvick cited her decision to leave Toyota’s development program.

“Look, we can go back and talk about this scenario and the moment she stepped out of that Toyota program here was kind of the end and turning point of the NASCAR piece of what Hailie Deegan does,” Harvick said. “I thought that she was in a great position to be successful while she was in that Toyota system and as soon as she got out and went into the situation she got in with Ford, it just spiraled out of control in the wrong direction. Hopefully, she gets a fresh restart over there.”

Harvick’s co-host, Mamba Smith, said he is glad to see Deegan “back in competition.”

“I like that for her,” Smith said. “I’m glad that she’s back in competition. I hope she finds success there; I know part of the reasons why she’s there, are sponsorships are hard over here and they’re hard everywhere, but for her to get back in the car [is] pretty cool.”