(Press release from Camping World SRX Series)
Scheduling Conflicts at Knoxville and Slinger Prevent Kanaan from Running Full Camping World SRX Series Schedule
Hailie Deegan will substitute for Tony Kanaan in two Camping World SRX Series races as scheduling conflicts prevent Kanaan from competing June 19 at Knoxville (Iowa) Speedway and July 10 at Slinger (Wis.) Speedway.
Deegan is currently a fulltime driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the 19-year-old racer from Temecula, California, was tabbed by SRX co-founder Ray Evernham to fill in for Kanaan.
“Tony Kanaan is going to bring a lot to the Camping World SRX Series, both in terms of talent and personality. We’d love to have him for all six races, but we’re also not going to complain about having him for four,” Evernham said. “It did, however, allow us the opportunity to find another strong personality who has shown that she’s not afraid to race door-to-door for the win. Hailie Deegan has won on the style of tracks where SRX is racing and now she has the opportunity to win against some of the biggest names in motorsports.”
Deegan is a three-time winner in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and was the first female to win a race in that series.
“It’s an honor to be a part of SRX and I’m grateful for the chance,” Deegan said. “I love racing. I started when I was eight in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Series and, for the last five years, I’ve been on pavement working my way up the racing ladder. The challenge of SRX really appeals to me. Competing on different tracks – asphalt and dirt – with other drivers from all sorts of disciplines is a unique opportunity that doesn’t come around every day.”
Kanaan is committed to the four other races in the six-race short-track series beginning with the June 12 debut of the Camping World SRX Series at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. After Stafford, Kanaan will race June 26 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, July 3 at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis, and then July 17 in the season finale at the Nashville (Tenn.) Fairgrounds Speedway.
“I feel like other people driving my car is the story of my season,” said Kanaan, who is sharing a car in the NTT INDYCAR Series with Jimmie Johnson, running all the ovals while Johnson runs all the road and street courses. “Obviously, I want to race the full SRX schedule, but I have two commitments I cannot break. I really appreciate everyone’s flexibility, because when I first heard about SRX, I was the first one to raise my hand and loudly say I wanted to be a part of it. I’m happy that Hailie Deegan gets to enjoy this experience too because it really is a great opportunity for all of us.”
Every Camping World SRX Series race will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network with streaming live on Paramount+.
The Camping World SRX Series features world-class drivers from an array of motorsports backgrounds competing in identically prepared racecars on some of the most iconic short tracks in America. Tony Stewart, Paul Tracy, Bobby Labonte, Willy T. Ribbs, Bill Elliott, Ernie Francis Jr., Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves and Michael Waltrip are the fulltime drivers in the Camping World SRX Series. Local all-stars join the series regulars at the first five races, with six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby at Stafford, four-time Knoxville track champion Brian Brown at Knoxville, five-time USAC Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson at Eldora, prolific USAC and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner Bobby Santos III at Lucas Oil Raceway, and the winner of the July 6 Slinger Nationals – one of the most prestigious short-track races in the country – competing in the Camping World SRX Series race at Slinger. A handful of racing “ringers” will join the Camping World SRX Series at select races, with NASCAR veteran Greg Biffle competing at Stafford and Slinger, five-time Rallycross champion and former Formula One driver Scott Speed racing at Eldora and Lucas Oil Raceway, and Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Scott Bloomquist in his element at Knoxville.
Talents aside… Really?
To me, “Superstar” denotes accomplishments. All of the SRX drivers involved so far have done something. They’ve actually gotten rides, or even better, won in top level series, like Cup, Indy or F1, or they’ve broken barriers…
If they really wanted a female in the series, I think Danica, Simona de Silvestro, or Katherine Legge would be far a more meaningful choice.
9 days to go at the point Kanaan did the interview that was carried on Unmuffled and he bags out now. What a bush league move. Especially hearing him talking it up so much in the interview.
Mike Christopher with additional duties for this race they say with an announcement to come. Perhaps commentary duties or to put the Christopher seal on the race for local color?
Last minute who knows how difficult a time it was getting a driver for this race. It’s a woman and that’s good. It’s a woman that is not afraid of mixing it up with the boys and that’s even better.
The Indy 500 winner in the house. Fortunate timing aye?
9:30 start time for the MRS race tomorrow night not ideal. The good news is Open Wheeled Wednesday at Seekonk is being televised as part of the Speed 51 subscription.
Doug,
Tony Kanaan will be racing at Stafford. Deegan is replacing him for two events, June 19 at Knoxville Speedway and July 10 at Slinger Speedway.
There’s not excuse of course for not reading the content carefully but I was trying to read and right while watching Alexandra Fearn get knocked around multiple times by the boys in the LLM demo derby.
Sorry to take you away from the race to correct my sloppy writing.
Thanks
Is Halie Deegan really considered a superstar in motorsport’s ?
Who?!?!… Unreal…. Imagine if Pro football and baseball players could get spots with money and popularity??….Answer, Nobody would watch those sports.
Any beefs with the Deegan pick are legit. However in the end it will be judged on how she performs and what she brings to the show in terms of excitement. She, being of the female persuasion mixes it up with the boys on an even footing, gives the women watching someone they can relate to and the decision will be a hit.