Katherine Legge wants to do ‘all the things’ when it pertains to finding more opportunities in racing and that includes NASCAR.
Legge will make her ARCA Menards Series debut on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway with Sigma Performance Services (SPS). It will be her first time competing on the oval at Daytona. However, it will not be her first time in a stock car, as she has made five starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
But as Legge has prepared for her Daytona debuts, she has made the media rounds. During a stop on the ‘Good Game’ podcast with Sarah Spain, it was mentioned that Legge would attempt the Memorial Day weekend double between the NTT IndyCar Series and NASCAR. However, as Legge told RACER’s Marshall Pruett, there are no solid plans for that to happen, and she’s focused on earning her way through the NASCAR process to be able to compete on all types of racetracks.
“I think we’ve probably got to take it one step at a time and see how we’re going to get there,” Legge said. “I want to do all of the things. I want to do the Daytona 500. I want to do the Coca-Cola 600. I want to do more NASCAR. I want to do more IndyCar. I want to do more sports cars.
“I’m non-discriminatory. I think it would be very cool. I’m no Kyle Larson; I wish I was. I watched him at the Chili Bowl and in that moment, I felt very insignificant and just in awe of the amount of talent that he has. But, you know, wouldn’t that be cool? I think that would be cool. So, never say never. Let’s put it like that.”
Legge made four starts in the Xfinity Series in 2018. In the years since, she’s made one more start, which was in 2023. Four of those five starts came on road courses, with the other being the Richmond Raceway short track.
A motorsports veteran, Legge has competed successfully in various racing disciplines. In 2005, she triumphed in Long Beach in Toyota Atlantic, becoming the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America. In 2023, she became the fastest woman qualifier in the Indianapolis 500’s history.
But competing in stock car racing is becoming her new favorite, and Legge sees the benefits of being a versatile driver now with stock car experience.
“Yes, I am,” Legge said about being game to drive anything. “And again, it’s making me a better driver and it’s actually been one of the coolest experiences that I think I’ve ever done.”
Andy Lally offered an assist to get Legge ready. She had mentioned to Lally during a celebration in Asheville, N.C., for Spencer Pumpelly’s 50th birthday that she was heading to Charlotte for a seat fitting. Lally, who has competed in NASCAR, offered to go with her.