Hailie Deegan announces 2023 plans, joins ThorSport Racing

In one of the most awaited announcements of the off-season, Hailie Deegan joins ThorSport Racing for her third year in the NASCAR Truck series, as the team moves to Ford equipment.

Photo credits: ThorSport Racing

It was one of the most anticipated announcements of the 2023 NASCAR season and the news is finally out: Hailie Deegan will join ThorSport Racing for the 2023 season, as the California-native will start her third season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Deegan – who was named most popular NASCAR driver for the second consecutive year – claimed a best finish of sixth at Talladega in 2022, adding two more top-ten finishes after her seventh place scored at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2021, in her rookie season in the series.

After two years at the wheel of the #1 David Gilliland Racing truck, Hailie Deegan – a Ford supported driver – will switch to ThorSport Racing, as the team also moves from Toyota to Ford equipment.

Deegan has in fact joined Ford Performance driver development program in 2019, and has also entered selected races of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in the Mustang GT4 – as well as the ARCA Menards Series in 2020, finishing third in the championship standings.

“With 28 years in the Truck Series, we look forward to the partnership with Ford Performance in NASCAR” – said ThorSport team owner Duke Thorson. "Our pursuit of wins and championships remains at the forefront of our objectives.”

The Ohio-based race team has competed in the NASCAR Truck series since 1996, winning at least one race every year for a consecutive 15-year streak.

Deegan, who has also made her NASCAR Xfinity debut in 2022 in a one-off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, finishing in a very promising 13th place and on the lead lap – will be part of a 4-driver line up at ThorSport Racing, alongside series veteran Matt Crafton, 2021 champion Ben Rhodes and Ty Majeski, who returns for his second year in the team.