Katherine Legge Achieves Historic Top-20 Finish in Chicago NASCAR Cup Race
Katherine Legge made history at the Chicago Street Course, becoming the first woman in eight years to secure a top-20 finish in a NASCAR Cup Series race, finishing 19th. This achievement marks a significant milestone for both Legge and Live Fast Motorsports.
“It feels pretty good to get that monkey off my back, honestly,” Legge stated post-race, reflecting on her accomplishment.
Legge qualified for the race by outperforming Corey Heim and a driver from 23XI Racing, securing the 33rd position out of 41 entrants. Although her qualifying run was marred by contact with the walls, Legge demonstrated resilience throughout the race, navigating through a chaotic field that saw numerous competitors sustain damage.
“I made a couple of mistakes, but it was good,” she remarked. “I felt pretty racy there at the end… it’s just good to get the experience.”
This race was Legge’s third start in the Cup Series, racing for B.J. and Jessica McLeod. After a challenging debut at Phoenix Raceway, where she crashed into Daniel Suarez while vying for position, her performance in Chicago signifies a notable progression. She also recently raced in Mexico City, but Sunday’s event was her first finish on the lead lap this season, with an improved average running position of 26th, compared to earlier outings.
“It was way more stressful to qualify for it than it was to actually race,” Legge added, highlighting the difficulty of learning the track and car under pressure. “Then I got to chill in the first stage and just find my feet, and then we got racy from the second one on.”
This 19th-place finish is a significant accomplishment for Live Fast Motorsports, representing only their second top-20 finish on a non-drafting track since the team’s inception in 2020. The only other similar result was a 19th place by McLeod at the Coca-Cola 600 in 2021.
Danica Patrick was the last woman to achieve a top-20 finish in the Cup Series, with her last appearance in 2018, securing 191 starts from 2013 to 2018.
Legge’s performance in Chicago showcases not only her potential but also an increase in competitiveness for Live Fast Motorsports within the evolving landscape of NASCAR.
