After seven years without a female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Katherine Legge is stepping up as the 17th woman to compete at the sport’s highest level. The 44-year-old veteran racer will make her debut at Phoenix Raceway, piloting the #78 Chevy for Live Fast Motorsports. While Legge has extensive experience in IndyCar, Formula E, and SportsCar racing, NASCAR’s next-gen car presents a new challenge—one she’s tackling with significant support from Chevrolet’s top teams, including Rick Hendrick’s powerhouse organization.
Legge has some NASCAR experience, having run five Xfinity Series races, primarily on road courses, with one oval start at Richmond in 2018. However, Phoenix is an entirely different test, requiring extensive preparation in a short time. That’s where Hendrick Motorsports and other Chevy-backed teams stepped in.
She trained on simulators at Richard Childress Racing to get a feel for the track before stepping into Chevrolet’s advanced motion simulator for a more realistic experience. But the most crucial help came from Hendrick Motorsports, which provided her with pit stop practice, allowing her to familiarize herself with the mechanics of a Cup car in live conditions.
During a pre-race press conference, Legge revealed how key figures in Chevrolet’s racing network came together to support her. She expressed gratitude toward B.J. McLeod and Live Fast Motorsports for the opportunity and credited Hendrick Motorsports for playing a vital role in her preparation.
Legge initially hoped to debut at Circuit of the Americas, a road course that suited her background, but logistical hurdles forced her to take on the challenge of Phoenix instead. Despite the steep learning curve, she feels confident thanks to the top-tier support she has received.
While Phoenix marks her Cup Series debut, there’s speculation that she could return for a road course race later in the season. For now, all eyes are on how she performs in her first Cup race—one made possible with key assistance from Rick Hendrick and Chevrolet’s elite teams.
