As the daughter of a celebrated X Games maestro, Brian Deegan, with her own crowning achievements—being the pioneering female victor in the West Series for two consecutive years—one would think Hailie Deegan has the Midas touch. Followers have been yearning for another enchanting performance reminiscent of her 2020 ARCA Menards series. Yet the wind seems to have shifted. Instead of the frequent top-5 finishes that dotted her ARCA journey, she’s been grasping at straws in the NASCAR Truck series, with a sole top-10 exception at Texas this season.
As the tracks lead to Talladega, she’s unveiled a new ace up her sleeve—a fresh sponsor with a vibrant paint scheme for her truck. Typically, a new hue sends ripples of excitement through the fanbase. Yet this time, the waters appear strikingly placid, marred by a burgeoning tide of criticism.
Deepening distress for ThorSport driver Hailie Deegan
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Hailie Deegan, once heralded as the potential replacement of Danica Patrick in terms of adulation and robust performance, now navigates a turbulent sea of challenges. Over the past two years, her performance has taken a somber nosedive. Her 2021 initiation into the Craftsman Truck Series saw her finish a distant 17th, and the following year proved even grimmer, witnessing her plunge to the 21st position in truck rankings. A mere sparse sprinkle of top-10 placements in both years offers little consolation, with top-5 or winning positions remaining elusive.
Even the recent transition of crew chiefs, from Rich Lushes to Brian Ross, aimed at resurrecting her dwindling performance, bore no fruit, further dimming her aspirations of making a mark in the Xfinity Series. Amidst these turbulent tides, a beacon of hope emerged as Odyssey Battery extended their sponsorship for her forthcoming Talladega race, promising a fresh paint scheme for her truck.
Yet, contrary to expectations, this development failed to ignite excitement among her followers. Instead, a cacophony of frustration and disappointment echoed from the fans’ end. Die-hards, unfiltered in their criticism, did not shy away from expressing their disillusionment, taking to Reddit to voice their discontent at her flagging track performances.
Watch This Story: Hailie Deegan’s NASCAR Journey: a Tale of Triumph and Tribulation
Fans unleashed a torrent of criticism on Hailie Deegan’s recent Truck Series performance
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Hailie Deegan’s best bow in the 2023 NASCAR Truck Series was back in April 2022 in Texas, where she clinched a 6th place finish. Her second-best showing, a distant 12th in Kansas, starkly highlights the chasm between her successes, leaving one to ponder over her least impressive feats.
The patience of her fans seems to be wearing thin with her recent racing trajectories. Odyssey Battery, her latest sponsor, unveiled a promotional image of her with the caption, “T-minus 2 days until we see our friend @HailieDeegan wheeling this awesome #OdysseyBattery scheme in the #NASCAR_Trucks Series at @TALLADEGA! 🤩 Who’s ready?!👋👋 on Twitter, the digital realm of Reddit was set ablaze. Fans didn’t beat around the bush, holding forth on their discontentment with the Thorsport driver’s recent run of form in the 2023 season.
T-minus 2 days until we see our friend @HailieDeegan wheeling this awesome #OdysseyBattery scheme in the #NASCAR_Trucks Series at @TALLADEGA! 🤩 Who's ready?! 👋👋👋 pic.twitter.com/Iat0BnqLil
— ODYSSEY® Battery (@ODYSSEY_Battery) September 28, 2023
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Amidst the turbulent waters of fan opinions, comparisons between her driving and Cindric’s notorious flip emerged. One commenter sarcastically expressed, “Hopefully she doesn’t recreate Cindric’s flip in the Odyssey Batteries car.” Others, with a touch of sarcasm, said, “I can’twait for how good this will look in the slow-motion replay as she gets caught up in a wreck running 25th after a poor pit stop.”
The onslaught of critiques didn’t stop there. Many set their sights on her and her team’s pitstop performance. “All good till the pit stop. Her pit crew is far better than she performs lol,” a fan lamented. Some also chimed in with a forecast adding salt to the wound, commenting, “Top 10 trucks wreck out and she finishes 13th”
“25th finish…what’s your guess?”
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Read More: Hailie Deegan’s Career Takes Another Steep Fall After Being Double Crossed by Closest Confidant
However, the rumor mill is buzzing. According to the grapevine, or more precisely, a recent tweet from Bob Pockrass, the trusted voice from Fox Sports, there’s talk that as AM Racing expands to two Xfinity cars, Deegan might be handed the keys to one. It whispers hope while raising many eyebrows: given her recent Truck Series escapades, what awaits her ascent on the NASCAR ladder?
