British racing veteran Katherine Legge had high hopes for her NASCAR Cup Series debut at Phoenix Raceway. However, things didn’t go as planned, and she left the track feeling frustrated and embarrassed. After spinning out twice and unintentionally taking out fellow driver Daniel Suárez, Legge admitted that it was not her finest performance. Now, she is determined to prove herself and silence the critics.
A Tough First Outing for Katherine Legge
Legge is no stranger to motorsports. Over the years, she has competed in IndyCar, IMSA sports car racing, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. With such a diverse racing background, many expected her to put in a solid performance in her Cup Series debut.
Unfortunately, her first race in the series was anything but smooth. Early in the race, Legge spun out but managed to recover. Later, she lost control again, this time collecting Daniel Suárez, who was running inside the top 10. The crash ended both of their races and left fans and analysts questioning whether she was truly ready for the Cup Series.
Here's what happened on Katherine Legge's spin today at Phoenix: https://t.co/eKtDfo3ueo pic.twitter.com/42fBSVCe7z
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 9, 2025
After the race, Legge didn’t hold back her emotions.
“My goal was to finish, and that didn’t happen, and I don’t like not achieving the things I set out to achieve. I was embarrassed by the way that it ended because I made a mistake, and nobody likes to make mistakes. It was not my best work, let’s say,” she said on her podcast “Throttle Therapy with Katherine Legge.”
“Everybody does make mistakes, but I was definitely under the spotlight, and I was trying my best not to make mistakes,” Legge said.
She elaborated further later in an interview with RACER: “I was giving everybody so much room and so much respect, and trying to do everything right, and that mistakes obviously got me a lot of negative attention,” she said.
The 44-year-old driver felt the pressure of being in the spotlight, especially as the first woman in years to compete in a Cup Series event.
Facing Criticism and Seeking Redemption
As expected, her performance sparked debate within the NASCAR community. Some criticized NASCAR’s approval process for new drivers, while others sympathized with the challenges of adapting to a Cup car. Suárez, though understandably frustrated, chose not to blame Legge directly but did raise concerns about NASCAR’s approval process.
Veteran driver and NASCAR analyst Kevin Harvick also weighed in, suggesting that Legge had been put in a difficult position. “She was really thrown to the wolves in this situation,” Harvick said, acknowledging how tough it can be for drivers making the switch to stock cars from other racing disciplines.
READ MORE: ‘Throw Me in an F1 Race’ — Joey Logano Questions NASCAR’s Logic Behind Approving Legge for Phoenix
Despite the backlash, Legge remains committed to improving. She knows she has a lot to learn but is eager for another opportunity to prove herself in NASCAR. “I’m going to prove everybody wrong, because I know that I’m a good race car driver and this was just a blip in the matrix,” she said.
For Legge, this debut race may have been a setback, but she is determined to turn things around. With more time and experience, she hopes to show that she truly belongs in the NASCAR Cup Series.