Published 01/28/2023, 8:19 AM EST
For Hailie Deegan, the past season could’ve been a before and after point in her NASCAR career. There were huge expectations from her to take the Truck Series by storm and step up to the Xfinity Series.
But unfortunately, even though she did get her first Xfinity start at Las Vegas, her campaign in the Trucks was littered with bad luck and inconsistent results, leading to an overall disappointing campaign.
Yet, now, with a new team, ThorSport Racing, Deegan would be hoping to bounce back and live up to the expectations and the promise she has shown before. And the way her year has started, it seems she just might.
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This is because Deegan, along with her teammate Ben Rhodes, finished third in the No. 41 PF Racing Mustang in the 32-car Grand Sport (GS) class.
Fans congratulate Hailie Deegan on her first achievement of 2023
Deegan’s P3 finish in this IMSA race not only boosted her stock in the NASCAR fanbase but also saw a lot of fans congratulating her on, what is, an achievement for her, but what could be the first of many achievements in the coming season for the young driver.
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Deegan needs to step up her game as per Larry McReynolds
In a recent episode of the SiriusXM Show, Larry McReynolds made his thoughts on Hailie Deegan pretty clear. The crew chief claimed the young driver needs to up her performances for her own, and for the good of the sport.
“It’s beneficial for everybody involved for Hailie Deegan to perform. I mean, she is a female. She is a minority, driving a NASCAR Camping World, or what’s now Craftsman Truck Series truck. It’s so beneficial that she performs,” he had said.
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LEBANON, TENNESSEE – JUNE 24: Hailie Deegan, driver of the #1 Wastequip Ford, waits on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 24, 2022 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Having said that, McReynolds pointed out that this is something that nobody knows better than Deegan herself. Still, he emphasized the need of the hour for her even more.
“She has got to step it up,” he said. “Winning races.”
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“To me, a third season, the rubber’s meeting the road.”