Katherine Legge is on the brink of NASCAR history.
The British motorsports veteran will make her long-awaited Cup Series debut on Sunday, taking the reins of Live Fast Motorsports’ No. 78 car in the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
The moment is seismic for more reasons than one. When Legge takes to her glistening chariot, she’ll become the first woman to take part in a Cup Series race since Danica Patrick in 2018.
Legge has ample experience behind the wheel, competing in various races across the IndyCar, IMSA SportsCar, and Formula E circuits. She was the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in 2005 and posted the fastest qualifying time for any woman in Indy 500 history back in 2023.
There will be a fair few challenges for Legge, who has tended to perform best in open-wheel equipment. Furthermore, Live Fast is far from a Cup Series stalwart — the BJ and Jessica McLeod-owned team has just two top-10 finishes across 114 races.
Nevertheless, Legge’s appearance should prove a compelling one. Women have played a sizable role in shaping NASCAR’s legacy. Legge, armed with her No. 78 Droplight Chevy Camaro, is the latest to contribute to that lineage.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and results from Legge’s showing in the Valley…
