What do Danica Patrick and Hailie Deegan have in common? The first similarity is a good one; both are women with relatively respectable success in NASCAR, which is truly inspiring in a male-dominated motorsport industry. But the second one, not much. Both have a reputation for causing wrecks and disrupting races. For obvious reasons, the second factor has drawn the ire of fans and critics alike, leading to calls for Deegan to rethink her racing strategies.
Her recent dismal performances at NHMS have only made things worse. Ace spotter Brett Griffin made his views clear, albeit diplomatically, about what needs to be done with the #15 Rookie.
Brett Griffin’s harsh reality check
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For instance, the three-way battle at NHMS between Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, and Christopher Bell had fans on the edge of their seats, until the #15 Ford rammed into the rear bumper of the #92 Chevy, shredding it to pieces. NASCAR had to raise the caution flag, disappointing fans who were eager for action in the rain-delayed race. This incident marked Deegan’s fourth consecutive finish outside the top 20, further diminishing her playoff chances. What can Deegan do at this point to elevate her image and regain respect in the racing community?
Brett Griffin, speaking on the DoorBumperClear podcast, didn’t mince words: “You wanna run the full schedule for what? To make the playoff? Well, you ain’t going to make it. I’m going to state the obvious. She’s not going to make it. She’s got no chance.” Griffin suggested that Deegan should follow a strategy similar to Ryan Preece and Ryan Truex by running a partial schedule to increase her chances of winning. Bringing in a strong reality check factor, Brett Griifn exclaimed, “Running worse than 20th is doing nothing for your career!“, emphasizing the need for a strategic change.
Griffin further elaborated, “I knew before the season started she wasn’t going to make a playoff unless some lucky thing happens and she stays out on a rain delay and she wins. So your fans, your sponsors need you out there every week. Well, I think her social media funds a lot of her sponsorship. It’s phenomenal. She doesn’t have to race every week for it to still be phenomenal.” Considering Griffin’s perspective, we must also ponder other options for Deegan to salvage her career.
via Getty INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JULY 29: Hailie Deegan, driver of the #1 Wastequip Ford, waits on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series TSport 200 at the Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 29, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
But what other options does she have other than racing part-time as mooted by Griffin? Not to mention the fact that her Truck racing career hasn’t been too good either. It’s high time she goes back to her basics and starts from scratch if she hopes to keep her dream alive.
Time for a strategic rethink
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Let us take a breather and have a look at Hailie Deegan’s career this season. Currently, she ranks 27th with 165 points, 424 points behind the leader, with no wins, top 10s, or top 5s in 16 races. Her average start is 28.875, and her average finish is 26.75, with three DNFs and no laps led. Such dismal performance raises a question: is Deegan ready for Xfinity racing?
If a driver is underperforming, more practice might be necessary, as simple as that. Deegan may benefit from returning to the ARCA Menards Series to rebuild her confidence. Currently, she ranks below drivers like Brennan Poole and Leland Honeyman, and her stats reflect a need for improvement. A stint in ARCA could be just what Deegan needs to prove she can learn and perform.
This season, Hailie Deegan has only four finishes of 20th or better. Her best result was a P12 at Talladega Superspeedway, while earlier at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, she placed 15th. However, she also has eight results in the 30s. While many incidents were due to other cars running into her, this is part of racing. For example, Chandler Smith and Parker Kligerman have managed to avoid significant damage in similar situations. Deegan needs to develop this skill to improve her performance.
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In her three full seasons in the Truck Series, Deegan only earned five top 10s. Last year, Brett Moffitt, driving for the same AM Racing team, managed one top-five and nine top-10s. Given this, Deegan’s underperformance stands out. Returning to ARCA could provide the opportunity to rebuild her skills and confidence, setting the stage for a stronger return to higher series.
Why not give ARCA another shot to build her confidence and show she can perform better?