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Katherine Legge to Make NASCAR Cup Series Debut at Phoenix

Katherine Legge, a familiar name in various racing circuits, is set to make her debut in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway this weekend. The accomplished 44-year-old driver will be only the 17th woman in history to race at this elite level of stock car competition, breaking a notable absence since Danica Patrick’s last appearance in the 2018 Daytona 500. Furthermore, Legge will be the first female competitor born outside the United States to participate in the Cup Series since 1977.

While Legge’s background in stock car racing is limited—having made just four starts in the Xfinity Series in 2018 and one recent start last year, where she placed 14th at Road America—her overall racing credentials are extensive. Earlier this year, she debuted in the ARCA series at Daytona, where an early collision ended her race prematurely.

Despite being a newcomer to NASCAR, Legge’s experience is substantial, boasting 47 IndyCar races, including four Indianapolis 500 events, and nearly 100 competitions in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series. Her accolades include participation in numerous Rolex 24 Hour races at Daytona, where she achieved a class runner-up finish in 2018 and secured four class victories while driving an Acura NSX GT3 in the GTD class. Additionally, she made appearances in Formula E back in 2014 and was the first woman to win a significant open-wheel race in the United States, a milestone she achieved in 2005 when winning a Toyota Atlantic Series race.

Katherine Legge has recently shown a keen interest in expanding her NASCAR involvement. Speculation has arisen regarding her potential to become the first female driver to attempt the challenging Indy 500 and Coke 600 double, though no plans for this venture have been announced at present.

Katherine Legge, SS-Green Light Racing, Blast Equality Collab Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: Jared East / NKP / Motorsport Images

A significant aspect of Legge’s racing career has been her experience on various types of tracks. Phoenix Raceway presents a distinct challenge with its unique dogleg along the front stretch, providing opportunities for drivers to maneuver and utilize the apron even while navigating turns. This weekend, Legge will pilot the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, supported by sponsorship from DROPLiGHT. The team, which has been active in the series since 2020, currently races on a partial schedule. They did not qualify for this year’s Daytona 500 but did compete in the race at Atlanta, driven by team owner B.J. McLeod.

Within the context of female drivers in the Cup Series, Danica Patrick holds the record for the most starts, with a total of 191. Meanwhile, Sara Christian achieved the highest finish by a woman during NASCAR’s inaugural season in 1949, securing a fifth-place finish in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photos from the COTA Race

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Nick DeGroot

NASCAR Cup

Katherine Legge

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