NASCAR's Katherine Legge urges young girls to ‘never, ever give up'
At the Shriners Children's 500, Katherine Legge became the first woman to compete at NASCAR's top level since Danica Patrick nearly a decade ago.
The English driver is the 17th woman to race in the Cup Series and one of only two to drive in the Indy 500.
Legge, 44, joined NewsNation's 'Morning in America' to discuss how she has inspired young girls and women looking to get into the sport.
Katherine Legge the 1st woman in 7 years to compete in NASCAR Cup Series race
'When you set out down a career path, you never really think, 'OK, I'm going to do it for all of the women,' or 'I'm going to be a role model or a trailblazer or anything like that,'' she said. 'You're literally just following your dream, and along the way, somewhere you realize that there is a certain element of that, and with that comes responsibility.'
She said women and young girls approach her, praising her for what she does.
'(They're) like, 'We see you doing it, and therefore we think we can do it,' and that's special,' Legge said.
Last weekend wasn't an easy race. Legge spun in the first few laps before crashing out a couple hundred laps later, colliding with other cars. At the time, Legge called the experience 'baptism by fire.'
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'It was just one of those things where I think everybody who's gone into the Cup Series has made a mistake. Just happened to be in front of everybody when everybody was paying attention because it was Women's History Month,' Legge said.
It was a learning experience, and she said she would be ready for the next race.
'At the end of the day, I feel so much better having got that first race under my belt and that experience because I know that when I go out there next time, it'll be a totally different kettle of fish,' she said.
Legge had a few words of advice for young girls.
'Just keep your head down, keep at it, and never, ever give up,' she said. 'Believe in yourself, even if you have to fake it till you make it.'
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