Hailie Deegan recaps Las Vegas victory, gives advice to other female race car drivers

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Most seventeen year-old’s are focused on graduating high school and taking the SAT ACT testing. That’s not the case for Hailie Deegan. Deegan, 17, is not doing the typical high school song and dance. She is racing in the NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series West and winning NASCAR races.

Deegan has two career victories to her resume, both coming with last lap passes. Her most recent victory came in the season opening K&N Pro Series West race at the Las Vegas Dirt Ring.

“It was cool,” Deegan said about her victory in Las Vegas. “The dirt track is more where I came from and easier for me. Even though we had some ups and downs that day with finding the right line, I listened to my spotter and we did good.”

Deegan and her Bill McAnally Racing teammates made the trip from the west coast to run the K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon (April 6). Deegan believes the extra seat time will help her in the long run.

“I think just coming out here and getting more seat time, I think that’s something I lack right now compared to everyone else. I think if I come out here, get some good laps and a good finish, it’ll be really good for me.”

Since racing in NASCAR, Deegan has broken down barriers for women in racing. She has captured two wins and is proving that she can run with the boys. Deegan wants other women to know that they can do the same thing too.

“If you have the will and drive, you can do anything anyone else can,” the Bill McAnally driver said. “Just keep your head on straight and keep pushing, push yourself to be the best version of yourself you can be. It’s a lot of work, everyone thinks it’s easy and it’s kind of handed to you but it’s not. It takes time, a lot of time.”