NASCAR Drivers Demand Approval Process Reforms

Katherine Legge's debut in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway has sparked widespread criticism of NASCAR's driver approval process. Legge, despite her extensive racing background, struggled with the Next Gen car and spun twice, affecting Daniel Suarez's race. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano have both questioned the current system, suggesting it is flawed and overly controlled by non-racing executives. They propose involving experienced drivers in the decision-making process for approvals and penalties, as evidenced by the controversial penalty against Austin Cindric. Kyle Larson and Michael McDowell also emphasized the need for a more structured approach to approving drivers, advocating for a process similar to the ARCA Menards Series or the Xfinity Series for newcomers. The incident has highlighted inconsistencies in how NASCAR applies its approval criteria, calling for reforms to ensure driver readiness and safety in the Cup Series.