NASCAR Commissioner Slams Vile Attacks on Female Driver Katherine Legge
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has addressed the online threats and hate messages that Katherine Legge has received since taking up a part-time racing role in the Cup Series.
The British driver has been open with the extensive threats that she has been receiving, mainly via social media. Addressing these, Phelps made his position and the position of the sport very clear to CNN:
"I want to be crystal clear about this, we condemn this behavior. It is unacceptable, this is not appropriate for NASCAR, sports, or the world.
"This is a woman who has competed very successfully in all forms of motorsports and we want her here at NASCAR. They can take their opinions and their hate right out of NASCAR, because there's just no place for it."
Katherine Legge, driver of the #32 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet, waves to fans as she walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025 in...
Katherine Legge, driver of the #32 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet, waves to fans as she walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025 in Talladega, Alabama. MoreThe 44-year-old has got experience in multiple racing disciples, including IndyCar, Formula E, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, ARCA Menards, and now the NASCAR Cup Series. She holds the record for the fastest qualifying time for a female driver in the Indy 500, which she set in 2023.
Legge has also spoken to CNN about the hate that she has received.
"Online bullying is getting more toxic, and I think that somebody needs to call it out," she said. "It's shocking to read some of the vile things that people write, there just seems to be this whole online movement where people think that it's OK to say these things that they would never have the courage to say to people in real life; or absolutely shouldn't."
She added:
"I think it's more prevalent with women in sports, especially with women in male dominated sports, because we stick out more, you know? There is the opinion that we are a gimmick, or we shouldn't be there because we're DEI hires and we haven't earned our spot.
"It's just noise. I have a thick skin. It's not worth my time or energy. I can honestly say it doesn't phase me one way or the other, because they are people who I would not ask an opinion of. The people I respect, team members, my bosses, my partners, my family, my friends, and those who have been there and done it, are the voices that I listen to."
She added:
"It's just mind-blowing to me because I would never do it. I would ever go online and try and bring somebody else down to raise myself up and so I feel sorry for them, I guess, is the best way of putting it."
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