KATHERINE LEGGE Joins Elite Company as Second Woman to Race Cup at Phoenix

March 3, 2026

• KATHERINE LEGGE made history last season by becoming just the second female driver to compete in NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway. She started 30th and finished 37th with a 30.8 driver rating in her debut, joining an exclusive club previously occupied only by DANICA PATRICK who made 11 starts at the Arizona track from 2012-2017.
• DANICA PATRICK established the benchmark for women at Phoenix with 11 career starts, posting her best finish of 16th in 2015. Her average starting position was 29.1 with an average finish of 25.8 and a 53.1 driver rating across her Phoenix career. Patrick’s legacy includes being part of just 150 total NASCAR national series races held across four Arizona tracks dating back to 1951.
• The statistical breakdown reveals the uphill battle women face at Phoenix – both PATRICK and LEGGE started deep in the field and fought for every position. With only two women having ever competed in Cup Series at this track across 59 total races since 1988, we’re looking at representation that barely registers at 3.4%. The data shows how rare these opportunities remain, making each start significant for building the foundation future generations will need.

female drivers, motorsports history, nascar cup series, phoenix raceway