NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Hailie Deegan in 2023
By Randy Smith
Hailie Deegan 2023 landing spots: No. 3 – Stewart-Haas Racing (Xfinity Series)
If Hailie Deegan competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series during the 2023 season, the best landing spot for her would be the team that has her best interest: Stewart-Haas Racing. The team currently only field the #98 Ford for Riley Herbst, and it isn’t likely that they will replace him, so adding Deegan would require them to field a second car next year.
It’s a pricey move, but it’s been done before. During the 2019 season, the team fielded the #98 Ford for Chase Briscoe and the #00 Ford for Cole Custer. They have been Cup Series teammates since last year. Needless to say, if SHR want a driver to say in-house, they will find a way to make it happen.
The #00 has been a number closely tied to Custer throughout his racing career, even outside of NASCAR, so while the number may change, they could very well still field an additional car for a driver they want to see succeed at all costs.
For Deegan, driving for one of the premier Ford organizations in the sport would be her best move by far. For SHR, they can go all-out to gain a much-needed sense of clarity for their future.
Herbst may be a solid driver for their Xfinity Series program, but their Cup Series team needs to start planning for the future. Aric Almirola was originally set to retire before walking back on his plans and announcing a new multi-year contract. But how long he stays beyond 2023 is still unclear.
SHR’s most successful driver, Kevin Harvick, is set to see his contract expire next season and has hinted that 2023 could be his last year as a full-time driver. Add in the uncertainty surrounding the #41 Ford, and you have three out of four cars with question marks.
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Biting the bullet and fielding a second car for Deegan next year speeds up the process of answering any questions about her career and her candidacy for a Cup Series ride. SHR went all out for Danica Patrick, and they shouldn’t hold back when it comes to Deegan.