Hailie Deegan faced a difficult test at Barber Motorsports Park during her second Indy NXT race, taking on the Grand Prix of Alabama with drive and determination over the weekend. Despite finishing 17th out of 20 competitors after last-place qualifying, Deegan demonstrated resilience and a noticeable sense of progress compared to her series debut at St. Petersburg in March. As one of the most challenging and physically demanding circuits on the schedule, Barber tested her skills in ways she had never encountered in her stock car racing career, forcing her to rapidly adjust and learn under intense pressure.
In preparation for the event, Hailie Deegan navigated a series of unpredictable practice sessions characterized by changing weather conditions. Wet and dry segments mixed together, exposing her to unfamiliar scenarios in open-wheel competition. During these sessions, she identified critical differences in how Indy NXT cars handle moisture on track, describing in her post-race VLOG how water disperses and the racing line forms as conditions improve. For Deegan, who previously raced in NASCAR’s closed-wheel divisions, the transition to open-wheel tactics posed a sharp learning curve, one that required both quick thinking and adaptability.
Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions presented fresh challenges and new lessons for Hailie Deegan. She managed to avoid spins and major incidents despite the wet conditions, an achievement underscoring her cautious but competitive approach. Qualifying, held in the rain for her group, saw her post the slowest time of 01:27.5294. Teammate Caoi Collet, by contrast, set the session’s fastest time at 01:24.8394. Notably, Hailie Deegan admitted she was unaware that Indy NXT sometimes holds qualifying while it’s raining, saying, “Won’t make that mistake again,” and highlighting just how different the experience is from her previous racing background.
As Deegan clarified in her VLOG, the structure of Indy NXT’s group qualifying means lap times between wet and dry sessions do not ultimately disadvantage the earlier, rain-hit group. Instead, Group 1 and Group 2 drivers are slotted into alternate starting places, levelling the field to some extent even if one group sets slower times in tougher conditions. This format meant that, even though every Group 2 driver posted a faster lap, they still started alongside Group 1 drivers in staggered positions. Dennis Hauger of Andretti went on to win the race, securing his second consecutive victory and underlining the competition Deegan faces in the field.
Hailie Deegan’s experience at Barber Motorsports Park represents more than just a finishing position; it is a story of adaptation, perseverance, and the willingness to embrace every mistake as a stepping stone toward growth. Her honest reactions and openness about the challenges of switching from stock cars to open-wheel machines offer inspiration to young fans and aspiring racers alike. As she continues her Indy NXT journey, Deegan’s commitment to learning from each outing sets a compelling foundation for future success, raising expectations for what she might achieve next as the season unfolds.
