Hailie Deegan has confirmed her return to stock car racing, announcing she will rejoin the ARCA Menards West series with Bill McAnally Racing in 2026 after a challenging stint in Indy NXT. The former NASCAR Truck Series competitor, known for her determination, says her experience in open-wheel racing has enhanced her skills, fueling her ambitions for the next NASCAR chapter in her career.
Returning to ARCA Roots with Bill McAnally Racing
Deegan, the 24-year-old California native and daughter of X-Games icon Brian Deegan, is set to reunite with Bill McAnally Racing—the same team where she first turned heads in her 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series (now ARCA Menards) debut. That inaugural year, Deegan broke new ground as the first woman to capture a pole position at Las Vegas and secure a race win in Meridian, Idaho. Her momentum continued in 2019, with two additional victories and a third-place finish in the championship. She then joined DGR-Crosley, repeating her third-place series result before advancing up the stock car ranks.
Her NASCAR Truck Series tenure began in 2021, as she tackled three full seasons before transitioning to AM Racing for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity campaign. Facing an abrupt end to her Xfinity run after a mid-season split with the team, Deegan decided to pursue new opportunities outside of stock cars and entered the world of Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports for the 2026 season.
Lessons from the Indy NXT Experience
Deegan’s foray into open-wheel competition proved to be a steep learning curve, as her lack of experience in the category left her starting and finishing near the back of the field. Despite the setbacks, Deegan drew valuable lessons from each road course event, experiences she now plans to leverage upon her ARCA return with Bill McAnally Racing.
“I did learn a lot from racing Indy NXT,”
Deegan said in a YouTube video.
“I feel like my road course skills have definitely got a lot better, at least in an Indy NXT car. But as for translating them in a stock car, I’m really excited to see that. So hopefully I’m even better on road courses in a stock car now. And I did learn a lot from that.”
– Hailie Deegan, Driver
After her time in open-wheel machines, Deegan openly compared the physicality of NASCAR with that of Indy NXT, describing stock cars as
“one of the most unphysical forms of racing.”
Her recent training regimen has emphasized strength work, which she believes will translate into improved on-track competitiveness when she returns to ARCA competition for the 2026 season.
Chasing New Milestones in 2026 ARCA Season
Deegan has made her goals for her upcoming ARCA campaign clear: she aims to surpass her previous personal best and secure more wins in a single season than ever before with Bill McAnally Racing. During her recent YouTube announcement, Deegan outlined the targets she has set for herself and her team in the coming year.
“So my goal for this year, I’ve told him this (Bill McAnally) and I feel like we’ve made a good goal, is to win four races,”
Deegan said.
“If I could top my three races in the past, which was three wins I did have, was over two years. It was one win one year and two, the next. I think if we could top that and do four wins in one season, I would be super stoked.”
– Hailie Deegan, Driver
She added:
“Obviously, the championship is on my mind, and that takes more, I feel is a year-long battle. But when it comes to those kind of smaller goals I have and more short-term ones, is to win four races.”
– Hailie Deegan, Driver
Her 2026 ARCA Menards West campaign is scheduled to begin with the season-opener at Kern Raceway—owned by NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick—on February 28.
Looking Ahead: What Deegan’s Return Means for NASCAR
Deegan’s return to ARCA, bolstered by insights gained from her Indy NXT experience, places her in a unique position among rising drivers in the NASCAR ecosystem. Her skill development on road courses and strengthened physical approach could help her compete more fiercely as she represents Bill McAnally Racing in her quest for victories and a possible championship. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Hailie Deegan’s performance, eager to see how her expanded racing repertoire translates to success on the track and shapes her ongoing journey in NASCAR.
