Katherine Legge issues apology after early-race | Sports News

Katherine Legge’s NASCAR Cup Series debut got off to a rocky start after the No. 78 Chevrolet driver suffered a mishap in the early stages of the Shriners Children’s 500.

On Lap 4 of Sunday’s race, an early caution flag was waved once Legge self-spun off Turn 2 while racing by herself in the back of the pack at Phoenix Raceway. She was swiftly able to regain control of the car and continue with no damage suffered.

Moments later, Legge pitted against the advice of her team, who tried to inform her that the pits were closed. The 44-year-old seemingly didn’t hear what they were saying, however, and was promptly issued a penalty.

On the heels of the mental gaffe, Legge apologized to her team over the radio. “Hey guys, I’m sorry. I’m so tight. I have so much wheel in it that it got loose on exit, but it’s because I’m so tight,” she said.

A member of the No. 78 team encouraged Legge to put the mistake in the rearview mirror, replying: “Take a deep breath. Shake it off. Car’s fine. It’s all learning. Every lap. No harm, no foul.”

Speaking to FOX Sports’ Jamie Little prior to the race, Legge expressed a desire to avoid any on-track incidents and finish all 312 laps with her car still in one piece. “I just want to have a solid race, finish all the laps, show the other drivers the respect that they deserve and just learn as much as possible in the hope that I do a good, competent job,” she said.

“I don’t think I’m out there to take any risks today, I just want to finish and get the experience so that I get the opportunity to do more.”

Legge’s presence at Phoenix Raceway was an incredible feat in itself, as the Live Fast Motorsports driver became the first woman to get behind the wheel of NASCAR’s current Next Gen car and just the eighth woman to compete in the Cup Series’ modern era. Barring Sunday’s Shriners Children’s 500, the last female driver to race in Cup was Danica Patrick, who competed in the 2018 Daytona 500.

“Everybody says, ‘What’s it like to be a girl in racing?’” Legge said earlier in the week, per FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass. “And I don’t know, because I only have my own experience. I don’t know what it’s like to be a boy in racing. So I know what my journey has been, and I know that it’s gone for me and it’s gone against me, and I know where the struggles are. And I know mentally what you have to do to overcome those struggles.”

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