Joey Logano will replace Hailie Deegan in Chicago (Image: Getty)
Joey Logano has been confirmed to replace Hailie Deegan by AM Racing for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Chicago. The decision to call up last Sunday's Ally 400 winner by the struggling team to drive the No.15 Klutch Sports Ford Mustang has split opinion among fans.
Related articles
- NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports forced to abandon 'underperforming' Hooters
- Kelley Earnhardt explains why she never worked for her father and NASCAR legend
AM Racing have endured a struggling season so far and have made a major decision in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage and steer the team in the right direction. The decision means Deegan will be disqualified from playoff consideration, although she ranked last in points among drivers who started every Xfinity Series race in 2024 – 248 points behind playoff consideration.
Team president Wade Moore made no bones about dropping Deegan, admitting the team hopes to see an improvement with the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion behind the wheel. "The level of competition in the Xfinity Series is as competitive as it's ever been,” he said.
"It is our goal at AM Racing to field a competitive race team through our technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing and provide any of our drivers the best equipment and opportunity to be successful on track each weekend.
READ MORE: IndyCar star interested in attempting 'The Double' with NASCAR switch
READ MORE: Denny Hamlin admits excessive addition in $9.7 million mansion to Tyler Reddick
Don't miss...
Wood Brothers makes new driver announcement for 2025 NASCAR Cup Series [LATEST]
IndyCar star interested in attempting 'The Double' with NASCAR switch [LATEST]
Denny Hamlin admits excessive addition in $9.7 million mansion to Tyler Reddick [LATEST]
Hailie Deegan has been dropped for one race by AM Racing (Image: Getty)
"With that being said, we haven't had the success on track that we were hoping for in the first half of the season. When the opportunity to have Joey in the car at Chicago became a possibility, we felt we needed to take advantage of the knowledge and feedback that the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion could provide to our team's growth."
Logano, who will compete in the Cup Series Grant Park 165 the following day at the same track, revealed his excitement at the opportunity of another drive. "Racing in the rain on Chicago's street course last year was a challenge within itself," Logano said.
"Any extra seat time is always a positive for unique tracks such as this one. Driving the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars are a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to climbing behind the wheel of the No. 15 AM Racing Ford Mustang with high hopes to wheel it to the front."
But fans have been left split over the call, as some questioned whether the decision to replace her on a street circuit rather than an oval track actually makes her previous result comparable with Logano’s efforts on Saturday. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense unless you’re going to do it for an oval track as well,” one comment argued. With a second adding: “Why not on an oval? I don’t get it.”
Trending
READ MORE
- Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson indicate where they stand in NASCAR rivalry
While another argued that Deegan’s showings in the Ford are on par with how competitive the car actually is, they wrote: “She's running where she's supposed to be with the team she's with. Put her in the #9 car and I BET she'll be a weekly threat.”
Deegan’s omission means she will forfeit her opportunity to participate in the Xfinity Series playoffs with her absence classed as voluntarily missing an event. The only female driver in NASCAR’s three national competitions is suffering a second successive underperforming campaign for the struggling AM Racing side.
Logano’s performance will prove a litmus test of Deegan’s ability if he’s able to improve upon her recent results and prove whether there is more in the car to gain than the 22-year-old has managed. Deegan has recorded a top 15 finish just twice this season, coming home in P28 in the Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville last weekend.
Related articles
- Tyler Reddick explains his immense frustration in NASCAR post-race interview
- Denny Hamlin demands NASCAR fines fellow driver after Nashville incident
- Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano had disagreement over text during NASCAR rain delay
- Ross Chastain had close call with safety truck in terrifying NASCAR incident
- NASCAR explains controversial Kyle Busch decision that didn't help him
