Deegan joins Nitrocross field for Utah

Hailie Deegan will race in next weekend’s Nitrocross event at Utah Motorsports Campus, returning to the series for the first time since 2021.

Deegan will compete in the Side-by-Side class in a field that also includes Lucy, Mika, and Kira Block – the wife, son, and daughter of Ken Block – and Travis Pastrana, invoking memories of the early days of U.S. rallycross where Block Sr., Pastrana, and Hailie’s father Brian all competed.

In her last Nitrocross appearance, also in the SxS class, Deegan took a fifth and a fourth in the 2021 season finale at the Florida International Rally and Motorsports Park.

Speaking to RACER, Deegan said she was “looking forward to racing some UTVs and getting back to the dirt.”

While most recently known as a NASCAR driver, Deegan began her career in off-road racing. She started in the trophy kart classes of SXS Stadium Series and the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, before transitioning to stock car racing. She also competed in the 2022 Mint 400 in the Unlimited Truck Spec class.

On the NASCAR ladder, Deegan won three times in the K&N Pro Series West and took three top-10s in the Craftsman Truck series across three seasons. Her campaign in the Xfinity series came to a halt after parting with AM Racing following the Tennessee Lottery 250. In 18 Xfinity starts, including the fall race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022, she recorded four top-20 finishes.

Brian Deegan has also had a sporadic presence in Nitrocross, competing in both SxS and the top Group E class over the years. He claimed SxS victories in both the 2021 and 2022-23 seasons, and a best finish of fourth in two SxS starts in 2023-24. Last season he moved up to Group E for the first time, making four starts across the Phoenix and California race weekends, claiming a best finish of seventh in his final outing at Glen Helen Raceway.