Hailie Deegan returns to victory with last-lap pass at Madera 150
Hailie Deegan returned to victory in the ARCA Menards Series West in dramatic fashion, producing a last-lap pass to win the Madera 150 at Madera Speedway and secure her first series victory since 2019.
Hailie Deegan returned to victory in the ARCA Menards Series West in dramatic fashion, producing a last-lap pass on reigning champion Trevor Huddleston to win the Madera 150 at Madera Speedway and secure her first series victory since 2019.
Driving the #16 5.11 Tactical Chevrolet for Bill McAnally Racing, Deegan remained near the front throughout the race before moving into second in the closing stages, and after a late caution set up an overtime restart, she stayed alongside Huddleston and completed the decisive move through Turns 3 and 4 on the final lap, taking the checkered flag by just 0.148 seconds.
The victory was Deegan's fourth in the West Series and brought an end to a wait of 2,667 days since her previous trip to Victory Lane in the championship. Her last series win had come in 2019, making Saturday night's result highly significant after an often challenging period in her racing career, which ultimately brought her back to the ARCA Menards Series West in 2026 after a single seater stint.
The result also marked a first Victory Lane appearance for 5.11 Tactical with the #16 Chevrolet, while continuing what had already been a positive recent run for Deegan following consecutive third-place finishes.
Deegan's road to victory was not straightforward, however, with Trevor Huddleston emerging as the driver to beat for much of the Madera 150. The reigning West Series champion controlled the race from the front in the #50 Ford Mustang, although a succession of caution periods prevented him from completely escaping the field. Deegan, meanwhile, maintained a position toward the sharp end of the field without initially being able to mount a sustained challenge for the lead.
The situation changed with 26 laps remaining, when Mason Massey spun shortly after a restart. The incident helped move Deegan into second place and gave her an opportunity to take the fight directly to Huddleston. She attempted to challenge the leader on the restarts, but on the first two occasions Huddleston was able to use the restart to his advantage and pull clear.
Deegan's final opportunity came after another multi-car incident during a restart with only three laps remaining. The crash brought out the caution and sent the race into overtime, giving Deegan one final chance to challenge for the win.
This time, she stayed alongside the race leader from the green flag, refusing to allow Huddleston to establish the advantage he had enjoyed during the previous restarts. The two cars remained locked in battle as they approached the final corners, with Deegan keeping her #16 Chevrolet alongside Huddleston through Turns 3 and 4. Contact between the two cars pushed Huddleston higher up the track, allowing Deegan to gain the decisive advantage and accelerate toward the finish line, where she crossed just 0.148 seconds ahead.
In Victory Lane, a visibly emotional Hailie Deegan ended her seven-year wait for another victory.
“We had a car capable of winning it. The guys at Bill McAnally Racing gave me an amazing car,” Deegan said. “I’m tearing up right now; it’s been a long time since I won a race. I just want to say thank you to everyone, everyone that still believed in me.”
The ARCA Menards Series West season now moves to Nevada for the Kyle Busch Classic presented by Star Nursery at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, scheduled for next Friday night.
