Legge Debuts in NASCAR, Faces Criticism After Collision

Katherine Legge made her debut in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway, becoming the first female driver in the series since Danica Patrick in 2018. Despite her extensive racing background in IndyCar and IMSA, Legge faced challenges with an 'awful' car setup, resulting in a 30th-place finish after a collision with Daniel Suarez. Suarez criticized NASCAR for permitting less experienced drivers like Legge, attributing their collision to her lack of stock car experience. Legge, however, remains undeterred, expressing an eagerness to continue racing in the series while highlighting the underrepresentation of women in motorsports. She aims to inspire more female participation and sees her career as a testament to versatility and perseverance across different racing disciplines. As the NASCAR season progresses, discussions continue around the new Owner Exemption Provisional rule and its implications for driver entries.