NASCAR racing isn’t forgiving for any race car driver. It absolutely demands the very best from the driver, irrespective of their experience level and skill in the game. And one of the prominent features of being put to the test is comparisons, which allow the fans to pick their preferred choice of a driver to back during race weekends. Going by the recent trends online, it seems Hailie Deegan’s racing credentials are now being questioned and compared to the likes of Danica Patrick.

After competing for three seasons in the Craftsman Truck Series, Hailie Deegan decided to make a big switch to the Xfinity Series in 2024. She took charge of the No. 15 Ford from AM Racing and embarked on her rookie season. While she was expected to run well in his debut attempt but competing against some of the future NASCAR star drivers has proven to be a tough ordeal for the 22-year-old.

She is leading the charge as the only female race in the division, but with that popularity also comes a lot of attention. Out of the 13 starts the AM Racing driver has made this year, six of those have resulted in 30 or worse finishes. The only notable positive outcome of all 13 races was at Talladega (P12), where she blamed a fellow Ford driver, Riley Herbst, for not helping her get a better finish.

Despite the tough going, Deegan is always optimistic about her chances in her next race. And in trying to turn a corner for good, she is now focused on her task of getting good results at Sonoma Raceway. After a good practice, run, she took to her Instagram account and posted, “Practice ✅ This @vivaseltzer @fordperformance car was feeling pretty good in practice. Made some good changes headed into qualifying in the morning! @monsterenergy.”

But this gesture by Deegan wasn’t taken well by several NASCAR fans, who soon shared their opinions on her racing credentials in the comments section.