Reside Quick Motorsports has a brand new driver for his or her automotive, and it is a veteran motor sports activities racer and a girl.
Katherine Legge, 44, will make her debut within the sequence this Sunday at Phoenix Raceway within the Shriners Youngsters’s 500, turning into the seventeenth lady ever to compete in a Cup race. Legge will drive the No. 78 DROPLiGHT Chevrolet Camaro.
This will even be the primary time in seven years {that a} lady has competed within the NASCAR Cup Sequence, with Danica Patrick final making an look in 2018.
“I don’t wish to simply be a feminine driver for the sake of ticking a variety field, proper?” stated Legge. “I wish to be there on advantage, and I wish to be a superb instance for everyone that’s developing behind me.” She continued, “I’ve to show competence on the finish of the day, proper? Don’t suppose anyone expects me to exit and set the world on hearth and be aggressive as a result of it’s probably the most aggressive championship on the earth. I simply don’t wish to make any errors and look foolish or look incapable. I believe the competitiveness will include expertise.”
NASCAR:
Reside Quick Motorsports, co-owned by driver B.J. McLeod and spouse Jessica McLeod, discipline a part-time entry within the Cup Sequence. B.J. McLeod completed twenty second driving the No. 78 automotive at Atlanta, however he did not qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 and didn’t compete within the . With solely 37 entries slated for Phoenix, Legge is assured of a beginning spot on Sunday.
What to find out about Legge’s motor sports activities profession and ladies in NASCAR:
Katherine Legge’s auto racing profession
Legge, who was born in Guildford, England, has 5 begins within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence, most just lately in 2023 when she recorded her greatest end: 14th at Street America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. In February, she completed thirty ninth within the ARCA Menards Sequence’ Experience the ‘Dente race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
Legge is most well-known, nonetheless, as an IndyCar driver, competing in 19 races within the NTT IndyCar Sequence throughout 4 seasons (2012, 2013, 2023 and 2024) and 28 in CART (2006 and 2007), earned a mixed seven top-10s.
She has raced within the legendary Indianapolis 500 4 occasions, and in 2023, she set the file for the fastest-ever qualifying time by a girl.
Legge’s greatest success has come as a sports activities automotive driver. She has competed in 92 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship races sine 2014, successful 4 occasions and scoring 11 podium finishes.
NASCAR in approving her to race within the Cup Sequence.
When was the final time a girl competed in NASCAR Cup Sequence?
Danica Patrick was the final lady to compete within the NASCAR Cup Sequence.
Her closing race was the 2018 Daytona 500, the place she completed thirty fifth. In complete, Patrick made 191 Cup begins between 2012 and 2018, amassing seven top-10 finishes in that span. Twice, Patrick completed top-25 within the NASCAR Cup Sequence standings, ending twenty fourth in each 2015 and 2016.
Sixteen feminine drivers have run no less than one race within the Cup Sequence, together with Corridor of Famer Janet Guthrie, who drove in 33 races between 1976-80. The NASCAR Corridor of Fame awarded Guthrie the Landmark Award in 2024.
