By Jennifer Roback
Hailie Deegan, 20, is a rising star in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series but missed out on a race last weekend after someone allegedly made death threats against her boyfriend, Chase Cabre.
She first told fans of the news in an Instagram story and later elaborated on the situation in a 15-minute-long YouTube video, titled "Our Lives Are Being Threatened…" posted on her personal page.
In the video, Deegan went on to reveal that she discovered the stalker after an eight-page handwritten letter was sent to her Camping World Truck Series team “stating that he was dating me and in a relationship with me for multiple, multiple months and how he was just like in love with me and infatuated with me and I was his soul mate, and it kind of scared me a little bit.”
The couple later explained that the person was caught up in a catfishing scheme by a fake social media account that was pretending to be Deegan.
“This account went to the effect of saying, oh it’s all a fake relationship, it’s just straight business relationship, he pretty much makes me do everything, practically being held hostage and he beats me, physically abuses me, and none of that is true,” Deegan continued.
“It makes them feel a lot of anger toward Chase, which if the situation was real would be understandable, but it is not. So this guy ends up getting wrapped in this whole deal believing Chase beats me.
“I wouldn’t really be worried about this if the fact wasn’t this person, this guy lives near my race shop, near where I live, my home, and it makes me uncomfortable, it makes me scared. You shouldn’t be scared in your own house.
“ … I would keep kind of and eye on his posts because of the stalker situations I’ve dealt with in the past. The day that it pretty much changed was a few days ago when he posted stuff saying he was practically going to come kill Chase. His exact words were not going to kill Chase, but he’s going to come and he is going to be the last thing Chase ever sees.”
Deegan, Cabre, and Deegan's father, motocross racer Brian Deegan, have all reportedly tried to explain that the account is fake, but did not have any success.
As a result of these events, Deegan and Cabre notified authorities and have been in contact with both the FBI and NASCAR security to ensure their safety, NBC Sports reports.
"All we can do is try to feel safe in our home and have the cops protect us but when you don't know someone and they're threatening your livelihood it's hard to know what action you should be taking," Deegan said.
Deegan later returned to the track on April 7, 2022, for the race at Martinsville Speedway, where she finished 19th overall.