KATHERINE LEGGE Makes Cup Series History As 17th Woman To Race NASCAR’s Top Level

March 8, 2025

by Nick DeGroot // from www.motorsport.com

• KATHERINE LEGGE is breaking barriers as the first woman to compete in NASCAR Cup Series in over seven years, becoming only the third non-American woman after LELLA LOMBARDI and CHRISTINE BECKERS. The accomplished IndyCar veteran brings serious credentials to stock car racing’s biggest stage at Phoenix Raceway.
• We’re reminded that women have been making NASCAR history since day one – SARA CHRISTIAN competed in the very first Cup race in 1949 and still holds the best finish by a woman (5th place). DANICA PATRICK may not have won, but her pole position at the 2013 Daytona 500 and seven top-tens proved women belong at this level.
• The pipeline is stronger than ever with TONI BREIDINGER setting the highest Truck Series debut finish by a woman (15th) and 20-year-old ISABELLA ROBUSTO already collecting two top-fives in just six ARCA starts. These rising stars are building on foundations laid by pioneers like JANET GUTHRIE and SHAWNA ROBINSON who proved women could compete wheel-to-wheel with the best.

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