Hailie Deegan, a rising star on the NASCAR Truck Series, did not race in last week’s Freedom 500 at Bradenton’s Freedom Factory. At the time it was unknown why she didn’t particulate, but she posted a video on YouTube Monday evening that explained the terrifying circumstances that led to her absence.
In a video titled “Our Lives Are Being Threatened,” Deegan, who is one of the few female drivers in the sport, said that she decided to skip the race after reading a post from a fan who lives nearby who threatened to murder her boyfriend, fellow racer Chase Cabre.
“His official words were, not that he’s going to kill Chase, but that he’s going to come … and be the last thing Chase ever sees,” Deegan says during the 15-minute video.
The Truck Series’ Most Popular Driver last year says that the ordeal started with an “eight-page, handwritten letter” that was sent to David Gilliland Racing, stating that “he” was dating Deegan and was in love with her.
“It kind of scared me a little bit, because I’d dealt with stalker situations before,” said Deegan. “I went home that day, looked up the guy’s name on the note, and figured out that he was getting catfished by a fake Hailie Deegan account.”
“They say anything they have to to get money out of that person,” Deegan added, saying that the fake account accused Cabre of holding her “hostage” and beating her.
“None of that is true,” Deegan says. “But it makes them feel a lot of anger toward Chase. Then this guy gets wrapped up in this whole deal believing Chase beats me.”
Deegan said that when they realized this person was close to the track where they would both be, they decided to call the police. They also said that they have contacted FBI agents and NASCAR security.
They ended the video with a plea to the person making the threats and accusations to stop.
“If you are watching this video right now … just please stop,” Cabre says. “I’m not threatening, I’m doing anything … I’m just saying, it’s over. It’s not real. Just leave it alone.”
