We don’t watch a lot of NASCAR at the Demaras Racing headquarters because we’re elitists. But this Sunday we’ll make an exception as IndyCar driver Katherine Legge will make her top-tier NASCAR Cup Series debut on the 1-mile oval at Phoenix Raceway.
Legge has raced in lower-tier NASCAR series five times. But her first shot at the big show will be in the No. 78 Chevrolet, sponsored by DROPLiGHT. Her new team, Live Fast Motorsports, previously competed in the NASCAR Cup Series full time, but now only compete in special ‘one-offs’.
And this one is special, as Katherine Legge will be the first woman in 7 tears to compete in a NASCAR race, since Danica Patrick last competed in the 2018 Daytona 500.
In an interview with RACER Legge showed that she’s a true competitor, excited to try every racing dicipline possible.
“I want to do all of the things. I want to do the Daytona 500. I want to do more NASCAR. I want to do more IndyCar. I’m non-discriminatory. I think it would be very cool. I’m no Kyle Larson; I wish I was. I watched him at the Chili Bowl and in that moment, I felt very insignificant and just in awe of the amount of talent that he has. But, you know, wouldn’t that be cool? I think that would be cool. So, never say never. Let’s put it like that.”
It’s interesting to note that Katherine Legge is being treated like the world-class race car driver that she is, and not a marketing gimmick. You see, NASCAR is desperate to shed its image of good ol’ boys racing, yet attempts by female racers to break into NASCAR are met with staunch resistance. Some in the media have been particularly nasty towards Hailie Deegan, a young female racer who’s developing her skills while being mocked by the good ol’ boys for being too young, too pretty and not deserving enough of the attention she receives.
Luckily, Katherine is a pro who’s competed in the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona. She’s a tough competitor who’s earned respect from her peers. It will be a pleasure to see her beat those good ol’ boys at their own game on Sunday.
So, what does the term elitists mean to you? Down here in New England it would mean you are better than the rest of us lol
I love racing of all types, even street if you can get away with it 🙂
In my mind, people who ‘road race’ are superior to the oval racing drivers. Its not just that oval racing is simpler, its the whole NASCAR culture of smash-em and bash-em racing that makes me look down on it.
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However, NASCAR is super popular and I am glad that a great female road racer like Legge gets her shot.
OK thanks best of luck to her.
I’m not a NASCAR fan, but I will watch that race tomorrow JUST to see the Katherine does. She is a top-tier driver (getting up there in years) but she never took the EZ route. Never did the sexy stuff, the bikini girl route for the sponsors. Just look up Danica Patrick when she was starting out, and you’ll see what I mean. Swimsuit model / race car driver, shilling for the sponsors.
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Katherine Legge has my respect. Good luck to her tomorrow!
Yes, know Danica well. I am more of a Shirley Muldowney girl lol I like to go fast 🙂
Shirley was before my time but Ive been thinking of watching Heart Like A Wheel… maybe this is the sign I needed to fonally pop it jn the VCR.
Loved her and she raced at my local NHRA track here in Epping NH of course I was young and impressionable 🙂
You elitist open-wheelers. I don’t watch much NASCAR either, but I like it. Kan Katherine kick Kass tomorrow.
Ha ha! Elitists open wheelers.