Katherine Legge’s return to NASCAR’s Cup Series was supposed to be a historic moment. As the first woman to compete in the Cup Series since Danica Patrick retired in 2018, there was plenty of excitement surrounding her debut at Phoenix Raceway.
But instead of a breakthrough performance, her race ended in disaster. What should have been a celebratory moment quickly turned into a nightmare, with fans flooding social media with criticism—some even calling her “Danica Patrick 2.0.”
A Race To Forget for Katherine Legge
Legge’s struggles began early when she lost control of her car and spun out. She recovered and continued racing, but the trouble wasn’t over. Later in the race, she spun again—this time with far worse consequences. As she slid, Daniel Suárez had nowhere to go and slammed into her, ending the race for both drivers.
The back marker of the Indycar series continues her development as the back marker for the NASCAR cup series.
Great….opportunities are ahead for this one…— xTheRedShirtx (@ShirtxX) March 9, 2025
After the crash, Legge admitted it was a tough outing but remained optimistic about learning from the experience. NASCAR fans, however, weren’t as forgiving. Social media erupted with criticism, with many comparing her to Patrick and questioning whether she had the skill to compete at the Cup level. Some took it even further, claiming she “should not be on the track” or “doesn’t belong in a Cup car.”
Daniel Suárez and Fans Question NASCAR’s Decision
Suárez was visibly frustrated after the wreck, but instead of just blaming Legge, he took aim at NASCAR. He questioned why drivers with no Cup Series experience are allowed to race at this level, arguing that it creates dangerous situations.
His comments ignited a heated debate, with some fans agreeing that NASCAR should be more selective with Cup Series entries, while others defended Legge, pointing out that every driver needs time to prove themselves.
While the backlash was intense, others noted that Legge wasn’t the first driver to struggle in a Cup debut. Many rookies have had rough starts, but critics seemed to hold Legge to a different standard—raising the question of whether the scrutiny was harsher simply because she’s a female driver.
Some of the hate toward Katherine Legge has been pretty vile today. Unnecessary and disgusting.
My issue is with NASCAR’s approval system. Some drivers have been denied entry for a Cup race despite higher stock car qualifications.
Legge should have done Xfinity to help, IMO.
— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) March 10, 2025
Legge’s tough debut highlights a bigger issue: women in NASCAR continue to face an uphill battle. Patrick remains the only female driver to have had a full-time Cup Series career, and every woman who enters the sport faces immense pressure to perform immediately.
Despite the setback, Legge isn’t backing down. She acknowledged the challenge but hopes for more opportunities to prove herself in the Cup Series. Whether she’ll get another shot remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—her Phoenix debut has sparked a conversation that isn’t going away anytime soon.