MADERA, Calif. — Hailie Deegan made her return to Madera Speedway for the first time since 2017 count, using a green-white-checkered finish to grab the Madera 150 for the ARCA Menards Series West at the 53rd annual Mission Foods Harvest Classic.
It was Deegan’s first victory since 2019 and her fourth career series win.
Deegan’s victory is the fifth for a female driver in West history. Deegan has four of those wins – she won at Meridian Speedway in 2018 and the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Colorado National Speedway in 2019 in addition to tonight’s win at Madera – and Gracie Trotter the other; Trotter won at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2020.
“I can’t believe we did it. I felt like last race (at Roseville) I was in the position and didn’t capitalize on it enough. I told myself if we were in a position, I’m going to do everything possible to win this race because we had the car to do it,” Deegan said. “I’m tearing up right now. It’s been a long time since I’ve won a race. Everyone that has still believed in me – it’s been super hard. To see everyone still supporting me these days, it doesn’t go unseen. Thank you guys.”
Trevor Huddleston won the pole and jumped ahead of the pack at the start. Race action picked in the second half of the 150-lap race when Kern winner Mason Massey challenged for the lead. Massey made a three wide maneuver to take the top spot in lapped traffic on lap 78. Massey then collided with Idaho’s Ian Wood, sending Wood spinning into the turn one wall for a caution on lap 81 with Huddleston retaking the lead.
Robbie Kennealy and Washington’s Eric Johnson, Jr. challenged Deegan for fourth on the ensuing restart. Loomis’ Kenna Mitchell was relegated back to seventh as well.
Deegan made moves in traffic, driving around the outside of Phoenix, Ariz.’s Mia Lovell to take third. A restart changed the complexion of the race. Deegan tagged the rear of her teammate Massey into turn one, sending him spinning and thrusting Deegan into second position.
A caution flew on lap 142 for Josiah Reaume coming to a stop in turn two. Deegan was unable to complete a pass on Huddleston for the lead on the restart, however. Her race for the win looked over until a collision behind them, when Lovell and Johnson collided in turn three.
The incident set up an overtime, green-white-checkered finish. After leading the entire race, Huddleston tried to hold the lead from the top line. Deegan stayed alongside of him into the final set of corners and muscled her up way up the hill to accept the flag for her fourth career ARCA Menards Series, West win. Huddleston finished second while Mitchell stormed back to finish third in the Central Coast Racing Ford. Kennealy finished fourth while Massey drove to a strong fifth place in a comeback drive.
