Recently, rumors have developed regarding current Truck series driver, Hailie Deegan. These rumors involved Ford attempting to get Hailie Deegan an Xfinity series ride for 2023. After Deegan’s debut race in the Xfinity series, these rumors really started to gain traction. You can read about the rumors here.
After Deegan’s successful performance in Las Vegas, her current Truck series team, David Gilliland Racing, announced they would be rebranded as Tricon Garage and switching to Toyota trucks next season. Hailie Deegan is signed with Ford’s driver development program, so this means, at least, that she will not be driving for her current team in the truck series.
It is well known that Ford has an issue with the number of rides available for their driver development program. This fact, combined with her stellar Xfinity debut performance, has many thinking that she will make the jump to Xfinity series for the 2023 season. While her fans are undoubtedly excited by this possible move, there are many others are invoking the so-called “Danica Principle.”
What is this “Danica Principle?” From what I can gather, it seems to be the idea that Deegan is being promoted above other drivers based on her popularity and her ability to bring in sponsors. (I am not exactly sure why it is called the “Danica Principle.” It could just as easily be called the “inverted/reverse Kyle Busch principle.”) The “principle” seems to denote, however, that a lack of results is associated with one’s popularity. It also implies that a lack of skill is the reason for the lack of results, an obviously unfair judgment, since no one can compete at this level of motorsports without skill.
Many detractors believe that Hailie Deegan needs to “prove” herself in the truck series prior to entering the Xfinity series. This isn’t the traditional path towards Xfinity racing, however. There are many great drivers who did not spend a lot of time in the truck series – after all, the truck series didn’t even exist until 1995. Still, though, it isn’t just detractors who are concerned. Many of Deegan’s fans also feel like she is being rushed forward, much like Danica Patrick’s stock car career.
Danica Patrick did not compete in the truck series at all prior to racing a full season in what is now the Xfinity series. She raced in one ARCA race and one K & N Pro Series East race in 2010, finishing 6th in both races, and 2010 and 2011, she raced a part-time Xfinity series schedule. In 2012, she raced full-time in what is now the Xfinity series and part-time in the cup series. She began her first full time cup series season in 2013.
Compared to Hailie Deegan, Danica Patrick’s stock car career does seem a bit rushed. Patrick did have a lot of open wheel racing experience before she decided jump to stock car racing a little later in her career, so it makes sense that it would be rushed. One could also say Jimmie Johnson’s open wheel racing experience was rushed. I am not so sure, however, that the same is true about Deegan’s stock car career.
After the upcoming series finale in Phoenix, Hailie Deegan will have had two full seasons driving in the truck series (2021 and 2022), along with two full seasons in the K & N Pro Series West (finishing 5th in 2018 and 3rd in 2019) and one full season in the ARCA Menards Series (finishing 3rd in 2020). She has also raced part time in Tony Stewart’s Superstar Racing Experience series. While she may not have achieved the expected results in the truck series, she has certainly done so in her other stock car series ventures. One could also say she exceeded the expected results in her recent Xfinity series debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Both Danica Patrick and Hailie Deegan are skilled race car drivers. The two of them happen to be popular female drivers capable of bringing in sponsorship money. It may even become the situation that both were associated with Stewart-Haas Racing. If Hailie Deegan does drive full time in the Xfinity series next year, she will have earned that ride. This is where the comparisons end.
She is ready for a competive ride in Xfinity.
Well depnds on how she does in xfinity. I hope nothing but the best for her.
I agree with all your comments. Hailie belongs in a car, which she has lots of experience finishing in top 5 of multiple series season standings. I do hope she gets an Xfinity ride like SHR in 2023. Im one who believes truck series was a waste of time for her. It was just a truck team looking for a salable name driver. The team as a whole was mediocre at best. More often than not, she lost 10 positions every pit stop and her truck rarely had the speed to keep up with anyone. Occasionally her talent showed thru in spite of that, getting a few good results.
Hailie has earned her chance to drive in the Xfinity series she has the talent and marketing skills
She will surprise everyone given the chance
I don’t care what she drives, she will drive the wheels off of it. There is no vision except to finish first. She couldn’t do that if others wreck her.She also had rides that were not the best trucks she drove. There is no fear in her life. No need to compare her to anyone, she is the real deal.
I think she will do better In the car than the truck. She proved she can drive but she needs to be put in a car. God luck to her…
Let’s go FOMOCO! Start another Ford team, get the car count up in the xfinity series!! She can be competitive!!!