After spending the last three seasons competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Hailie Deegan is set to continue her ascent through the ranks of NASCAR’s National Series in 2024, with her first full-time campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The 22-year-old driver will compete for 2024 Xfinity Series Rookie of The Year honors with AM Racing, a relative newcomer to the second-tier series, and will drive the No. 15 Ford Mustang.
An official announcement was held Thursday (October 5th) at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I am excited about the opportunity to compete full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, starting next year with AM Racing,” said Deegan in a team release. “From the start, the team has been nothing but great to work with, and the vision that Wade has for the team to accomplish align with my values perfectly.”
“Through the support of Ford and the AM Racing team, I feel that we will achieve great things together in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and I can’t wait to see what the next few years have in store for all of us,” Deegan added.
In the organization’s debut season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Brett Moffitt has scored the organization first ever top-five, finishing fourth at the Chicago Street Race. Moffitt has also collected nine top-10s in the No. 25 Ford Mustang.
As of Thursday’s announcement, Moffitt’s status with AM Racing for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season is unknown.
“AM Racing is proud to announce the addition of Hailie to the family,” offered AM Racing team president Wade Moore. “We are excited to provide her with a home where she can grow as a cornerstone of our young program. It is an exciting time as we continue to strengthen our relationships within the Ford camp, AIRBOX, Viva, and our other partners respectively. There is a great deal of work to be done for all of us, but we are grateful and welcome the challenges ahead.”
A native of Temecula, California, Deegan’s tenure in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has been a bit of a struggle, scoring five top-10 results over three seasons – between two seasons with David Gilliland Racing, and one with ThorSport Racing.
“We are excited to see Hailie continuing to advance her career by running full-time with AM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director Ford Performance Motorsports. “Hailie works so hard on and off the track, and AM Racing will surround her with a great team to continue her development. From what we saw from Hailie in her Xfinity Series debut in Las Vegas last year, we look forward to some great results in 2024.”
This season, taking over the No. 13 Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing, Deegan has recorded a pair of top-10 results at Texas and Talladega, and with a pair of races remaining on the calendar sits 19th in NASCAR Truck Series points with an average finish of 21.0.
“Congratulations to Hailie, Wade, and everyone at AM Racing on this new partnership heading into 2024 and beyond,” said Doug Yates President & Chief Executive Officer of Roush Yates Engines. “Our team at Roush Yates Engines looks forward to our continued relationship with AM Racing next season and powering Halie Deegan in partnership with Ford Performance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.”
AirBox, Inc. and VIVA Tequila Seltzer have joined the organization as primary marketing partners of Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang.
Viva Tequila Seltzer, founded in July 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts, by three washed-up college athletes, is a company that redefines indulgence. The shared passion this group had for spending time with friends on the golf course while enjoying a refreshing drink gave rise to the creation of a healthier tequila-based seltzer. These founders have created a product that marries their love for a balanced lifestyle with a refreshing drink.
“Viva Tequila Seltzer is excited to join AM Racing in announcing their partnership with their dynamic new driver, Hailie Deegan, as they embark on a thrilling journey to redefine winning in NASCAR,” said Morgan Lockwood, Co-Founder of Viva Tequila Seltzer. “We’re thrilled to raise our Viva cans to the prospect of countless Victory Lane celebrations with Hailie and the entire AM Racing team next season.”
In September, AM Racing confirmed its intentions to expand upon its NASCAR Xfinity Series operation for 2024, fielding a pair of Ford Mustangs.
Additional details surrounding Deegan’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program with AM Racing will be announced at a later date, including crew chief, personnel, and additional marketing partners.
Furthermore, details on the rest of AM Racing’s Xfinity Series plans for 2024, will be announced at a later date.
