Katherine Legge vows to prove critics wrong after tough NASCAR Cup debut in Phoenix
Katherine Legge remains determined and optimistic about her NASCAR future despite a challenging Cup Series debut at Phoenix Raceway. While aiming to learn and complete the race with Live Fast Motorsports, her day ended early after a spin that collected Daniel Suarez with 98 laps remaining.
Racer in white beside green car
Despite having simulator time and pit practice at Hendrick Motorsports, Legge completed only 210 of 312 laps, finishing 30th. She openly acknowledged feeling embarrassed about the incident on her podcast, Throttle Therapy.
The incident sparked broader discussions about NASCAR's driver approval process and limited testing opportunities. Currently, practice sessions are confined to roughly 30 minutes, though Phoenix featured an extended 45-minute session.
Legge has actively addressed the situation by:
- Speaking with NASCAR officials
- Consulting with Live Fast Motorsports and Kaulig Racing
- Reaching out to Daniel Suarez, who responded with understanding
- Maintaining open communication with the racing community
Looking ahead, NASCAR has approved Legge for road courses and short ovals, with recommendations to gain more experience in the Xfinity Series. Rather than being discouraged, Legge views the setback as motivation to prove herself.
"All this does is make me dig my heels in," Legge stated. "I'm going to prove everybody wrong because I know that I'm a good race car driver and this was just a blip in the matrix."