--- title: "Katherine Legge Will Race in NASCAR Cup Series, First Woman Since Danica" date: "2025-03-03" modified: "2025-03-03" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/katherine-legge-will-race-in-nascar-cup-series-first-woman-since-danica" categories: - "NASCAR" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Katherine Legge Will Race in NASCAR Cup Series, First Woman Since Danica ![INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 18: Katherine Legge of United Kingdom (51) driving for Dale Coyne Racing on pit lane during qualifications for the NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying on May 18, 2024 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)]() *\Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire\* Sports car racing veteran [Katherine Legge]() announced Monday that she'll be making her [NASCAR]() Cup Series debut this weekend at Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children’s 500. She will become the first woman to race in stock car competition's premier series since Danica Patrick in 2018. Legge has five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to her name, and she recently competed in the 'Dente 200 NASCAR ARCA at Daytona this year, though was caught up in a Lap 3 crash that brought her race to an early end. Prior to that, Legge's most recent stock car race was at [Road Atlanta]() in 2023. Legge is best known for her vast experience in endurance racing in IMSA as well as her recent outings at the [Indy 500]() and the [Pikes Peak]() International Hill Climb. She's also branched out to other forms of racing, even competing at the [Chili Bowl]() Nationals in 2024. The popular Brit will drive Live Fast Motorsports' No. 78 Chevrolet, which is typically raced by team co-owner BJ McCloud. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based team originally claimed it would only race seven Cup races in 2025, though the Phoenix race with Legge marks an addition to the original calendar. > [View this post on Instagram]() > [A post shared by #1 Place for Nascar Updates! (@nascarnonstop)]() Legge has over 20 years of racing experience across several series and currently holds two records at the [Indianapolis Motor Speedway](): one for the fastest single-lap Indy 500 qualifying run by a woman at 231.627 mph, and the fastest four-lap qualifying run by a woman at 230.070 mph. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()