Kevin Harvick is aware of the requirements for success in the NASCAR. He was able to win the 2014 championship and 60 Cup Series events in this way.
The Fox analyst talked on Hailie Deegan’s news of leaving AM Racing during his July 16 “Happy Hour” podcast. He said that her lack of success was due to a single decision that altered her career’s course.
“I don’t think that mentorship and guidance has been exactly what she needed for NASCAR,” Harvick stated. “I think that leaving the Toyota development system was a big mistake.
I don’t think Ford has a great development system, in terms of what they do from ARCA to Cup. I’m not even sure if they have one at all.
“Thus, you find yourself in circumstances where you lack the resources and necessities that Toyota possesses,” he remarked.
And while Chevy performs it better than Ford, it still isn’t nearly as good as Toyota. Therefore, in my opinion, Ford’s driver development program is the worst. In my opinion, Toyota is the greatest. Additionally, I believe Chevy to be in the middle,” he remarked.
“Leaving that Toyota development program with all the tools and their willingness to remain patient.” Furthermore, I believe that she needed more time in the Truck Series to receive the direction and mentorship she need to grow into the kind of person required to drive a NASCAR racing vehicle.
She also has a sizable fan base outside of the racetrack, and in my opinion, she was placed in the incorrect development scheme and forced to progress too quickly in order to succeed.
Therefore, I believe it was a mistake for her to leave the Toyota development system at that point. According to Newsweek, Deegan’s appearance at an IndyCar event on July 12 sparked “conjecture” about a switch to the Indy NXT Series.
She will keep “expanding her horizons” in the interim, according to TobyChristie.com, as she competes in the SpeedTour All-Star Race in Connecticut on the weekend of July 20.
Harvick Consistent About Hailie Deegan From Beginning
Harvick warned of Deegan being rushed back in 2019, before she ever had her first start in a NASCAR national touring series race, so his most recent comments regarding her being rushed shouldn’t come as a surprise.
In March 2019, Harvey commented, “What I like about Hailie is that she loves to race,” on NASCAR.com.She has a great deal of energy when engaging in activities off the racetrack and is an excellent speaker about racing. The thing about Hailie that I admire most, though, is that her dad, Brian, has been there and done that. I’ve told them both that I don’t see why they’re in such a rush.
According to Harvick’s most recent remarks, Deegan and her crew disregarded his counsel in 2019 and forced her through the incorrect system, which prevented her from growing. What is the future Hall of Famer’s assessment on Deegan’s prospects?
He remarked, “I think getting another chance is going to be tough.” “That will be the challenging portion.” In the past, Harvick’s predictions on Deegan’s future have come true. Can he be correct once more?
For Heavy.com, Kyle Dalton covers NASCAR. Having covered high school, collegiate, and professional sports for over 30 years, he has written for publications such as the Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express News, Detroit News, and Sportscasting.com.
