Latest news with #LiveFastMotorsportsChevrolet
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Katherine Legge pushes back against disturbing comments and "death threats"
In this polarizing age we all live in, social media can be a treacherous place. Unfortunately, Katherine Legge is experiencing that first-hand following her recent NASCAR outings. In a recent episode of her podcast, Throttle Therapy, Legge got candid about the Rockingham race weekend. Legge was involved in an early-race incident when William Sawalich spun her out, damaging Kasey Kahne's car in the process. This led to some explosive reactions on social media, and in what is sadly becoming expected these days across digital platforms, many of the comments took things way too far. "I won't tolerate any of these threats to my safety or to my dignity" On her podcast, Legge had a lot to say about the criticism she has been facing, which has crossed over from performance critiques to gender-based attacks. While highly experienced in open-wheel cars and sports cars, her seat time in stock cars remains limited. She said that racing in NASCAR "comes with an incredible sense of pride," but also "a level of scrutiny and harassment." Advertisement She continued: "However, I will say that the hate mail, death threats, and the inappropriate sexual comments I've received aren't just disturbing, they are unacceptable. Let me very clear, I'm here to race and I'm here to compete and I won't tolerate any of these threats to my safety or to my dignity. Whether that's on track or off of it." Legge went on to say that she is open to constructive criticism and is obviously open to learning and improving, but noted that" there is there is a very thin line between feedback and personal attacks. It's really disappointing to see how often that line gets crossed." Katherine Legge, Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet Katherine Legge, Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet Getty Images Getty Images Advertisement It's an issue that is not isolated to NASCAR, auto racing, or even the United States, but that doesn't make it any less wrong, as Legge noted. "The level of hate that myself and my team our experiencing at the moment is part of a broader issue that I believe women specifically face in male-dominated spaces ... We can't normalize this issue. There's nothing normal about it. It's totally unacceptable. "I have earned my seat on that race track. I've worked just as hard as any of the other drivers out there, and I've been racing professionally for the last 20 years. I'm 100% sure that the OEMs and the teams that employed me -- without me bringing any sponsorship money for the majority of those 20 years -- did not do so as a DEI hire, or a gimmick, or anything else. It's because I can drive a race car." Breaking down the Rockingham race weekend Legge also talked about how the hatred will not make her quit and that she remains "more focused than ever" in her commitment to the sport. "My performance and not my gender is what defines me as a competitor," before later adding: "Luckily, I have been in tougher battles than you guys in the comment sections." Advertisement Legge then went into detail about how her weekend at Rockingham played out. While much of the negative feedback came as a result of the in-race wreck, there was also criticism regarding how she made the race. She originally failed to qualify, but was able to secure a ride with another team for the race. Explaining it all, Legge brought listeners in on how she had top 25 pace in practice. In qualifying, she got visibly loose at the exit of Turn 2 and she lifted -- likely more than she should have, by her own admission. She still beat five other drivers but due to the lack of owner points from the No. 32 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet, she was one of two drivers to miss the show. A fellow Chevrolet team was able to supply her with a ride with J.J. Yeley willingly giving up his seat. This is not an unusual practice in NASCAR. Legge then detailed how she had to get acclimated to a completely new car as the race got underway, but remained within a reasonable pace when compared to the rest of the field. On the wreck itself, she broke it down moment-by-moment, noting how she was trying not to take any unnecessary risks. Advertisement "I gave him [Sawalich] a lane and the reason the closing pace looks so high isn't because I braked mid-corner. I didn't. I stayed on my line, stayed doing my speed, which obviously isn't the speed of the leaders because they're passing me ... and he charged in a bit too hard, which is the speed difference you see. He understeered up a lane and into me, which spun me around and Kasey Kahne was an unfortunate recipient." While the vitriol is easy to find, there have been those who have come to the defense of Legge as well, including Marco Andretti, who took aim directly as the hateful commenters. You can listen to Legge's full Throttle Therapy podcast HERE. Read Also: Marco Andretti calls out NASCAR critics of "badass" Katherine Legge Katherine Legge fails to qualify, but will still run NASCAR Xfinity race Kasey Kahne's return hindered by early wreck with Katherine Legge To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Katherine Legge fails to qualify, but will still run NASCAR Xfinity race
Katherine Legge was aiming to qualify for Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity race at Rockingham in the No. 32 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet. It's part of a plan for her to run a dozen races this year between the Cup and Xfinity Series, but things did not go her way. Legge bobbled at the tricky exit of Turn 2 and lost valuable time in the process. Her 23.397s lap was still enough to beat five other drivers, but due to a lack of car owner points, she ended up being one of the two drivers to miss the 38-car field. The other driver who failed to qualify was Dawson Cram in the No. 74 Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet. Advertisement However, her DNQ is not the end of the story. Legge will still take part in Saturday's race -- the first NASCAR Xfinity race at Rockingham in 21 years. With financial backing from e.l.f. cosmetics, a ride swap was made possible with another Chevrolet team. She will instead pilot the No. 53 Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet, which was originally qualified by veteran journeyman driver J.J. Yeley. Katherine Legge, Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet Katherine Legge, Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet Getty Images Getty Images The team is scrambling to get the seat ready for Legge in this unexpected swap. The green flag is set to wave just after 4 p.m. EST. This will be Legge's sixth career start in the Xfinity Series and her first on an oval since Richmond in 2018. She did compete at the Phoenix oval earlier this year, but that was in the Cup Series. Advertisement Connor Zilisch earned pole position for the Xfinity race, beating Parker Retzlaff by just 0.001s. However, a flat tire after his pole lap means Zilisch will have to start from the rear of the field. And making his first NASCAR start in nearly seven years, Kasey Kahne qualified an impressive fourth on the grid. Read Also: Dejected Stewart Friesen wonders if it's "freaking worth it anymore" Kasey Kahne eyeing more NASCAR races if Rockingham goes well 130 races later, Tyler Ankrum snaps winless streak in Rockingham Truck race The return of Kasey Kahne: Highlighting his best moments in NASCAR To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Who is Katherine Legge? 5 things to know about the racer making her first NASCAR Cup start
Who is Katherine Legge? 5 things to know about the racer making her first NASCAR Cup start Race car driver Katherine Legge is headed back to NASCAR, this time taking on the sport's premier Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway this weekend. Sunday's Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix's mile-long track will mark Legge's NASCAR Cup Series debut, and she'll be the first woman to compete in NASCAR's top series since Danica Patrick's final race, the 2018 Daytona 500, before retiring from stock cars. At Phoenix, Legge will be behind the wheel of the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, the team announced Monday. Advertisement A seasoned veteran, Legge is far from a newcomer in motorsports, including racing in the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. She's also competed in NASCAR before — just not in the Cup Series. So here are five things to know about Legge before she makes her first NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend at Phoenix. 1. Legge has made four Indy 500 starts, including in 2024 Legge made her Indy 500 debut back in 2012 before also going on to compete in IndyCar's biggest race in 2013, 2023 and 2024. She's one of nine women to ever compete in the Indy 500 and was the only woman in the field last year, finishing 29th. Her best Indy 500 finish was 12th in 2012. 2. Legge set two Indy 500 qualifying records Ahead of the 2023 Indy 500, Legge set two qualifying records for women in the field: fastest one-lap qualification run (231.627 miles per hour) and fastest four-lap qualification run (231.070 miles per hour). 3. She's from England With a decades-long racing career, Legge is a 44-year-old native of Guilford, England but she's been racing in the U.S. for two decades. 4. Legge is not new to NASCAR In her racing career across multiple disciplines, Legge has competed in five NASCAR races, all in the second-tier Xfinity Series. She made four starts in 2018 and one in 2023, including racing at Road America, Richmond Raceway and on Charlotte Motor Speedway's roval. 5. Legge raced at Daytona International Speedway in February In the ARCA Series race at Daytona International Speedway ahead of the Daytona 500, Legge competed in the Ride The 'Dente 200 in the No. 23 Chevrolet. Although she started ninth, she was involved in an early multi-car wreck and didn't finish the race. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Katherine Legge making her first NASCAR Cup start, first woman since Danica
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Who is Katherine Legge? 5 things to know about the racer making her first NASCAR Cup start
Who is Katherine Legge? 5 things to know about the racer making her first NASCAR Cup start Race car driver Katherine Legge is headed back to NASCAR, this time taking on the sport's premier Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway this weekend. Sunday's Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix's mile-long track will mark Legge's NASCAR Cup Series debut, and she'll be the first woman to compete in NASCAR's top series since Danica Patrick's final race, the 2018 Daytona 500, before retiring from stock cars. At Phoenix, Legge will be behind the wheel of the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, the team announced Monday. A seasoned veteran, Legge is far from a newcomer in motorsports, including racing in the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. She's also competed in NASCAR before — just not in the Cup Series. So here are five things to know about Legge before she makes her first NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend at Phoenix. 1. Legge has made four Indy 500 starts, including in 2024 Legge made her Indy 500 debut back in 2012 before also going on to compete in IndyCar's biggest race in 2013, 2023 and 2024. She's one of nine women to ever compete in the Indy 500 and was the only woman in the field last year, finishing 29th. Her best Indy 500 finish was 12th in 2012. 2. Legge set two Indy 500 qualifying records Ahead of the 2023 Indy 500, Legge set two qualifying records for women in the field: fastest one-lap qualification run (231.627 miles per hour) and fastest four-lap qualification run (231.070 miles per hour). 3. She's from England With a decades-long racing career, Legge is a 44-year-old native of Guilford, England but she's been racing in the U.S. for two decades. 4. Legge is not new to NASCAR In her racing career across multiple disciplines, Legge has competed in five NASCAR races, all in the second-tier Xfinity Series. She made four starts in 2018 and one in 2023, including racing at Road America, Richmond Raceway and on Charlotte Motor Speedway's roval. 5. Legge raced at Daytona International Speedway in February In the ARCA Series race at Daytona International Speedway ahead of the Daytona 500, Legge competed in the Ride The 'Dente 200 in the No. 23 Chevrolet. Although she started ninth, she was involved in an early multi-car wreck and didn't finish the race.
