Hailie Deegan’s ARCA Menards return is official, as she rejoins Bill McAnally Racing for the full 2026 ARCA Menards Series West season. Starting February 28, 2026, at Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, California, Deegan will drive the No. 16 Chevrolet in the 13-race championship, aiming to recapture the form that marked her early years with the team.
The 24-year-old Temecula native experienced her first notable stock car victories with Bill McAnally Racing during the 2018 and 2019 ARCA Menards Series West campaigns. Running then with Toyota, she won at Meridian Speedway and scored two further triumphs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s dirt track and Colorado National Speedway. However, those remain her last trips to victory lane, and her career since has navigated a series of challenges across NASCAR and open-wheel racing.
Challenging Years Across NASCAR and Indy NXT
Deegan followed her ARCA Menards Series West success by competing for DGR-Crosley in the main ARCA Menards Series, where she finished third in points in 2020. Despite the strong overall finish, she did not capture a race win that season. She was then promoted to NASCAR Truck Series competition with David Gilliland Racing, but over two years, she managed only three top 10 finishes. A move to ThorSport Racing in 2023 resulted in just two additional top 10s before being elevated to the Xfinity Series with AM Racing in 2024.
Early optimism that the Xfinity Series’ cars would complement her skills proved misplaced. By midseason, Deegan and AM Racing parted ways after 17 starts that saw her best finish as 12th and four total top 20 results. Facing continued hurdles, she transitioned to HMD Motorsports in Indy NXT for 2025, the feeder series to the NTT IndyCar Series.
The open-wheel chapter proved challenging as well. Although Deegan finished every race that year, she consistently ran at or near the back, usually the slowest driver who did not encounter mechanical or accident problems. She ended tied for last place among full-time Indy NXT drivers, with no top 10 finishes over 14 starts.
Bright Spots and Lessons From Summer Stock Car Racing
Notably, Deegan found some competitive momentum in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), an invitational summer series co-founded by Tony Stewart, Ray Evernham, Sandy Montag, and George Pyne. In her 11 SRX starts, she collected two runner-up finishes and three other top fives, securing seventh in the standings during the 2023 season—her best statistical showing in recent years.
This period gave her a chance to reconnect with stock car racing on a different stage and demonstrated that, even amid broader struggles, she retained capabilities from her earlier career phase. SRX’s closure creates space for her newest endeavor with Bill McAnally Racing in ARCA Menards Series West.
A Return to Familiar Ground in 2026
Stepping back into ARCA Menards competition with Bill McAnally Racing and Chevrolet, Deegan appears poised for a reset that returns her to proven territory. During her previous two seasons with the team, she finished fifth and third in the championship, signaling promise as a young driver.
Now, following a difficult run through higher tiers of NASCAR, Xfinity, and open-wheel series, this move offers an opportunity for stability and growth. The reduction in pressure from teams, sponsors, and manufacturers could allow Deegan to focus on regaining her competitive edge without the fast-paced expectations that accompanied her earlier promotions.
What’s Ahead for Deegan and ARCA Menards Series West
The upcoming season begins at the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150. Deegan’s return to Bill McAnally Racing aligns her with a team and platform most closely associated with her past racing success. The familiar environment of ARCA Menards Series West could provide the right conditions for her to rebuild confidence and aim for victory lane once again.
Within the broader motorsports landscape, her story reflects the pressures and unpredictability that many young drivers—especially those who rise quickly—often encounter. Her choice to return to where she last achieved real results will be closely observed by fans, industry figures, and the next generation of racers. The lessons from her journey may influence how future talents are developed and moved through the professional ranks.
