KATHERINE LEGGE Makes NASCAR History as First Woman in Next Gen Car at Phoenix

March 10, 2025

by Cooper Burns // from www.phoenixnewtimes.com

GRRL! SUMMARY:

KATHERINE LEGGE broke a six-year barrier Sunday, becoming the first woman to compete in NASCAR’s Next Gen car and the first female Cup Series driver since DANICA PATRICK’s 2018 Daytona 500 run. Despite having just 10 days’ notice and minimal oval experience, the 44-year-old British driver tackled Phoenix Raceway’s tricky tri-oval in the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, making history even as she spun twice and retired after 210 laps due to contact with Josh Berry.
What makes LEGGE’s debut even more impressive is her crash course preparation – literally. After asking NASCAR how to get licensed just weeks ago, she had to start from scratch on ovals despite her 25-year career spanning Formula E, IndyCar, and Formula One. Teams across the garage stepped up with simulator time, pit practice, and support, showing the kind of solidarity we need more of when women are breaking down doors in this sport.
LEGGE’s resume reads like a masterclass in firsts: first woman to win pole in Ford Zetec Series (2001), first to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America (2005), and holder of the fastest qualifying speed by a woman at Indianapolis 500 (231 mph in 2023). Her Cup Series debut wasn’t about checking boxes – it was about opening doors for the next generation of female drivers, something she’s been consistently focused on throughout her barrier-breaking career.