Hailie Deegan will make her NASCAR comeback in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series West Championship, entering the season with Bill McAnally Racing after a year in the IndyCar feeder ranks. Transitioning back to stock cars marks a significant shift for Deegan, who had to overhaul both her physical regimen and driving style while competing in Indy NXT in 2025—a challenge that left her describing open-wheel preparation as far more demanding than what she faces now in NASCAR.
A Change in Training and Racing Demands
Although Deegan’s racing background has primarily involved dirt and stock cars, her stint in Indy NXT required rapid adaptation. She was unprepared for the physical intensity of open-wheel vehicles, especially since Indy NXT cars lack power steering, necessitating an emphasis on upper body strength in her workouts. Now, with her focus back on the ARCA Menards Series West, Deegan can relax aspects of her training she once found extreme.
“Now that I’m not training for the IndyCar stuff – that stuff is so physical. And I put on quite a bit of weight, trying to get stronger. The amount of creatine I was taking was absurd, trying to get as strong as I could as fast as I could. But now I’m doing the NASCAR stuff again, which is way less physical, like light years less physical. I don’t have to do IndyCar training anymore. So I’ve hit arms way less. I go back to my leg workouts, which I love, and cardio,”
Deegan said. (1:40 onwards)—Hailie Deegan, professional racing driver
This pivot in focus reflects what Deegan has labeled the least physically taxing form of racing compared to her time in the open-wheel category. The adjustment allows her to reintroduce the training style she prefers, balancing her routine with more leg exercises and endurance work rather than the heavy arm-focused routines required in the IndyCar environment.
Comparing Driving Tactics: IndyCar Versus NASCAR
Deegan last participated in a stock car event in 2024, representing AM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series until their unexpected split partway through the season. The transition back from open-wheel competition has presented her with new challenges as she reacclimates to stock car dynamics. In a recent YouTube video, Deegan explained the core distinctions she noticed when switching between these two motorsports disciplines.
“The biggest thing in the IndyCar was how far you drove it into the corner, how little brake you used, all of that”
said Deegan.
“Like, it was just so different than what you do in a stock car. Like, you get all the way to the center of the corner, and then you lift in the Indy stuff, and you do your little lift there. Whereas the stock car stuff, you want to do everything early, at like the first third of the corner, before you get to the center. When you get to the center, you get back to the gas.”
—Hailie Deegan, professional racing driver
This makes her upcoming campaign notably challenging, as she must retune instinctual racecraft that diverges significantly from what she developed driving in the IndyCar system. The mental and physical attributes needed in each category differ, emphasizing adaptability as key for drivers who make such transitions.
Starting the 2026 ARCA Menards Series West Campaign
Hailie Deegan’s competitive journey with Bill McAnally Racing resumes on February 28, 2026, at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, California. Returning to the ARCA Menards Series West should provide a familiar environment for Deegan, given her prior successes—she previously claimed victories in the series with McAnally’s team in both 2018 and 2019.
Although her venture into the IndyCar world was fraught with difficulties, including lackluster qualifying and finishing near the back of the field, she may be poised for improved performance in ARCA, leveraging her experience and past triumphs at this level.
What Deegan’s Return Means for Her Career and NASCAR
Hailie Deegan’s NASCAR comeback ushers in renewed focus from teams and fans alike, especially those watching her attempt to reclaim form after a turbulent open-wheel excursion. With Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway set to host her return, and Bill McAnally Racing’s proven track record with her, expectations are high for a competitive 2026 season. The shift highlights the stark contrast between open-wheel and stock car racing, particularly regarding the demands placed on drivers—both physically and technically. As the season approaches, all eyes remain on Deegan’s adaptation and potential revival within the ARCA Menards Series West, solidifying her resilience and versatility in American motorsports.
