Hailie Deegan

“Usually when I talk with other drivers, it's about past races, what they did, tips for different tracks, especially others in the Ford family.”

“You don't see guys being compared with other guys, you base people on your roots in racing. You would think I'd get more compared with people who do dirt racing.”

“I think what is most important to me is to be competitive week-in and week-out - not winning a race one week and then not finishing.”

“I love social media. I think people in NASCAR don't use it enough and there's so much you can do with it.”

“I take every race like my ride is on the line, like it's my last. I don't get sponsors when I finish second. My sponsors aren't happy when I finish second. They're happy when I win.”

“I've been in a lot of fires.”

“If you're any type of driver, you want to win - end of story.”

“I think the people who just stay in line fall into a segment of average drivers and I don't want to be average. I want to be different; I want to be unique for my driving style and my abilities.”

“Winning is kinda the cure to all things; to getting followers, fans, success. You've just gotta win.”

“You don't feel accomplished when you get that first step on the ladder. You feel accomplished when you're on top of the ladder. I want to be on top, and I'm going to do everything in my ability to get there.”

“People wonder where I get my aggressiveness. Since I was 8 I've been racing that way.”

“My dad has pretty much taught me, he's built this thing with me, he trains with me, practices with me, goes to the gym with me, we battle each other at the go-kart track. We're so competitive with each other, and I feel like we both make each other better because we're so hard on each other, just trying to be the best we can.”

“I'm still learning how to flip that switch on and off. I want to make the most of every opportunity with the least amount of collateral damage. In every race you make smart moves and you take risks.”

“Dirt has given me a really good car control ability, but it would have been an easier transition if I'd been racing pavement my whole life. But off-road has given me such a good foundation for car control when the car is loose, because the competitions are so intense - basically 30 minutes of utter chaos.”

“But it's hard for people to give you a chance until you prove to them that you're worthy.”

“To be a part of NASCAR, to have the name behind me is such a big deal.”

“I think NASCAR racing comes down... to going for those last-lap passes, making those risky moves. That's what makes drivers unique.”

“I saw these little trucks that I was obsessed with, and my dad got me one for my eighth birthday. That was the start of my racing career.”

“I'm never really just satisfied with where I'm at. I always just want to get better, improve more, learn as much as I can because obviously I have a lot to learn and a lot to get better at so it's all about improvement to me.”

“My parents can't always travel with me because my little brother is a world champion on dirt bikes.”