Hailee Deegan makes NASCAR announcement 12 months – Sports News
Hailie Deegan will drive for Bill McAnally Racing within the ARCA Menards Series West in 2026 (Image: Getty)
Having spent the 2025 season full-time within the Indy NXT collection as a rookie for HMD Motorsports, Hailie Deegan is returning to NASCAR, and particularly, the ARCA Menards Series West.
It was introduced on Wednesday that the 24-year-old, who has competed in each the NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and Truck Series, will probably be driving full-time for Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) as soon as again in 2026 as she returns to stock automobiles in a NASCAR-sanctioned collection.
Deegan beforehand spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with BNR within the West, ending fifth and third, respectively, selecting up three wins alongside the best way. In 2020, she moved on to DGR-Crosley, ending the season third within the ARCA Menards Series. Her announcement got here moments after fellow feminine driver Toni Breidinger revealed her own large profession information.
Now back in acquainted environment, after a 12 months testing her abilities in open wheel racing, Deegan will drive the No. 16 Chevrolet SS, beginning the season at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in California.
She will probably be backed by NAPA Auto Care and Monster Energy as her main sponsors, whereas Columbia Bank can even function on Deegan’s trip at 4 races.
Deegan drove for HMD Motorsports in Indy NXT final season (Image: Getty)
In a assertion, Deegan stated she “couldn’t be more excited to reunite with Bill and the BMR team.
“I’ve been away from stock cars for a bit but am focused on coming back stronger and competing for wins and a championship. Having Columbia Bank and Monster Energy on board and working with NAPA Auto Care again is going to be a thrill, and our goal is to get them to victory lane multiple times this year.”
Last season proved a combined bag for Deegan, ending a high of eleventh at Laguna Seca and a low of 18th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Road America, and Iowa Speedway en path to a 14th-placed collection end on 202 factors – the joint fewest with Tommy Smith amongst drivers who competed in all 14 races.
But whereas her Indy expertise seems to have come to an finish, at the very least for the time being, McAnally is clearly thrilled to have her back, saying that “Having Hailie back on our team is incredibly special.
“We enjoyed working together several years ago and won some races. I see the commitment she has for competing at this level and we want to be part of her success. She has the knowledge of winning out West and we have a great chance to chase our 12th title with her and Mason Massey in the fold.”
Massey, 28, is set to compete for BMR within the No. 19 for the primary time in 2026, having pushed part-time in each the O’Reilly’s and Truck Series since 2019. Last season, he made 13 O’Reilly’s appearances for Alpha Prime Racing in its No. 45 Chevrolet, ending a high of twentieth in back-to-back races at Pocono Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Whether or not Deegan’s return to the West may result in a NASCAR national collection comeback down the road stays to be seen, having run 18 O’Reilly’s Series races between 2022 and 2023, together with 69 within the Truck Series, the place she managed 5 high 10 finishes during three full-time seasons.
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