KATHERINE LEGGE Makes Cup Series History Despite Spins at Phoenix Raceway

March 10, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

KATHERINE LEGGE made history as the first woman to compete in NASCAR Cup Series since Danica Patrick in 2018, getting her shot with Live Fast Motorsports after 25 years climbing through motorsports ranks from dirt bikes to IndyCars. The English driver had just 10 days’ notice and limited oval experience, relying heavily on simulator prep in North Carolina before taking on the Phoenix mile.
Her debut proved challenging from the start – qualifying struggles led to overnight setup changes that backfired, leaving her fighting a loose car that spun twice during the 312-mile race. The first spin came early on Lap 4, while the second late-race incident took out Daniel Suarez and ended her day with a 30th-place finish.
Despite the rough outing, LEGGE maintained perspective about the learning experience, telling Fox Sports it was “baptism by fire” while expressing hope for future opportunities. Her team’s continuous adjustments throughout the race showed promise toward the end, with LEGGE noting they were “relatively quick” before the final incident – a foundation to build on if she gets another Cup Series chance.