Katherine Legge’s NASCAR Nightmare Sparks Debate—Is the System Failing New Drivers?
Daniel Suarez’s frustration was loud and clear after the Shriner’s Children 400, calling out NASCAR’s handling of inexperienced drivers in the Cup Series. His No. 99 Chevrolet got caught up in a crash caused by Katherine Legge, the 44-year-old British racer making only her second Cup start. While fans were quick to criticize Legge, she pointed fingers at NASCAR’s flawed approach to practice and preparation.
Thrown to the Wolves – Legge Calls Out NASCAR’s System
Kevin Harvick predicted it: Katherine Legge was being “thrown to the wolves.” Despite her efforts to prepare—running an ARCA race at Daytona, spending time in a Richard Childress Racing simulator, and even practicing pit stops with Hendrick Motorsports—it wasn’t enough. While there was a 45-minute practice session at Phoenix Raceway, Legge wasn’t there for the full run.
Legge wasn’t just blaming herself—she was calling out NASCAR’s shift away from real-world practice. “There is no testing, there is no practice, there is literally one session before qualifying and then you go race,” Legge explained. She argued that Next-Gen cars drive nothing like Xfinity or Truck Series vehicles, making it almost impossible for newcomers to adapt without extensive track time.
The difference between pre-COVID and post-COVID NASCAR is massive. Before the pandemic, teams could test anywhere, anytime. Race weekends featured two-hour practice sessions, allowing drivers to fine-tune their setups and get comfortable. But with those opportunities gone, newcomers like Legge are essentially learning on the fly in one of the most competitive motorsports in the world.
Suarez and Earnhardt Jr. Rally Behind Legge
Legge’s struggles at Phoenix were evident. Early issues set her back, but on Lap 215, she lost control again—collecting Daniel Suarez in the process. The backlash was brutal. Fans were relentless in their criticism, and Legge admitted, “I was bitterly disappointed. I got a massive backlash from some of the fans, which was obviously not what I’d hoped for either.”
But not everyone piled on. After a personal call, Suarez showed empathy, telling Legge, “Daniel was very sweet, actually, very kind and understanding. He was like, ‘Listen, I don’t blame you. Of course, what happened was less than ideal for me.’” Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. took NASCAR to task, saying the system had set Legge up for failure. “It does not help that she’s in a car that doesn’t do a lot of things right, and we don’t have any practice,” Earnhardt Jr. stated.
A Step Forward for Women in NASCAR
Despite the rough weekend, Katherine Legge made history. She became the first woman to race in the Cup Series since Danica Patrick in 2018—continuing a legacy that dates back to Sara Christian in 1949. While female drivers have made strides in NASCAR, sustained success has remained elusive.
One silver lining? Inspiration. Legge shared a clip of young girls watching her race, writing, “I never set out to be the representative for women in motorsports… But I see videos of young girls watching the race and thinking they can be anything they want to be when they grow up because they see a girl driving a racecar. That’s what makes it worthwhile.”
Will NASCAR Fix the Problem?
With Suarez, Earnhardt Jr., and Legge all speaking out, the pressure is on NASCAR to reconsider its stance on practice and preparation. Will they reinstate more testing time, or will newcomers continue to be “thrown to the wolves”? For now, Legge is determined to prove she belongs, but the bigger question is: Will NASCAR help her and future drivers succeed?
