Hailie Deegan, 17, becomes 1st female winner in NASCAR K&N

Posted September 30, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

MERIDIAN, Idaho (AP) - Seventeen-year-old Hailie Deegan used a bump-and-run on her teammate to become the first female winner of a NASCAR K&N West Series race. Her last-lap shove of Cole Rouse at Meridian Speedway in Idaho gave her the victory.

Deegan is the daughter of X Games motocross rider Brian Deegan. Her victory came in her 18th start on the NASCAR K&N circuit.

The teenager from Temecula, California, led only one lap in Saturday night's race, the last one. Deegan had two previous runner-up finishes in the series and said after the race she had imagined the winning move the night before while lying in bed. Deegan said her plan was to nudge the leader just enough to make the driver wiggle and create room for the winning pass.

Rouse also is seeking his first career victory. He complained Deegan got into his car too hard for the bump-and-run.

Deegan drives for Bill McAnally Racing and is leading the rookie-of-the-year standings.

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FILE - In this file image taken Feb. 11, 2018 and provided by Connexions Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Hailie Deegan shares a laugh with her father Brian Deegan at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach Fla. On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, Seventeen-year-old Deegan used a bump-and-run on her teammate to become the first female winner of a NASCAR K&N West Series race. (Chris Garrison/Connexions Sports and Entertainment vis AP, File) The Associated Press

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