Deegan Looking for Gold at Phoenix Desert Jewel

Venue: Phoenix Raceway

Event: General Tire 150

Date: Thursday, March 5th

Location: Avondale, AZ

Track Description: 1-mile tri oval

Distance: 150 laps, 150 miles (4:00 p.m. MT, 6:00 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1)

BMR Reunion… Hailie Deegan returned to Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) for her 2026 debut in the ARCA Menards Series West (AMSW) at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Saturday night. The No. 16 team showed speed in practice and flashed that pace at times during the race before finishing sixth. Even though the result provided a starting point, Deegan was not satisfied with the finish, highlighting Deegan’s competitive drive and her expectation to compete for victories and a championship this season. The Temecula, Calif., native used the opener to regain comfort behind the wheel of a stock car with BMR, and now shifts her focus to the next challenge with the No. 16 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet SS at Phoenix Raceway.

Veteran Presence… Thursday night’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway features a strong field of drivers, but Deegan’s experience gives her and the BMR No. 16 team an advantage. Her Phoenix resume includes six starts across three different NASCAR national series, driving multiple types of cars, which should pay dividends on the desert track. The competition is deep, as the race is a combination event with the AMSW and national ARCA Menards Series (AMS) fields. With 39 drivers entered, Deegan will have her work cut out for her as she looks to put together a strong day in Arizona.

Build the Notebook… As Deegan continues to settle into her seat at BMR in the AMSW, the team is gaining a clearer understanding of what she needs from the car to be competitive. During her previous stint with BMR, she was still developing as a driver and is now considerably more experienced. This week’s race at Phoenix Raceway provides an opportunity to fine-tune the car and gather notes, which will be valuable when the series returns in the fall for the season finale. The team aims to use this weekend as a foundation for the rest of the 2026 season and position themselves for a potential championship run later in the year.

Tune In… Coverage from Avondale, Ariz. begins at 6:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 for the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway. Stay connected with the No. 16 NAPA Auto Care team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmr_nascar on Instagram and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.

Hailie Deegan Quote:

“Going back to Phoenix is going to be blast! It’s one of the most recent tracks I’ve raced at that is on the schedule this season and with the speed we had at Kern as a team, I think we will have a good run with our NAPA Auto Care Chevy.”