Should NASCAR have a screening process for drivers from other racing disciplines looking to make their debut in the premier stock car racing series? Well, this question has become a topic of discussion with Katherine Legge’s debut at the Phoneix Raceway last Sunday. It’s not that female drivers have a tough time driving on ovals, far from it. Danica Patrick and Hailie Deegan have proved this with their long stints competing in the national series. Although Legge’s objective from the race was to “be respectful of the leaders and stay out of the way,” she landed in trouble right from the get-go.
In the early goings, she was battling an unstable car and spun on the race track. Admitting her mistake, Legge radioed in, “Guys, sorry, I’m so tight. I have so much wheel in it that it got loose on the exit.” Fortunately, she didn’t collect other drivers and sustained any damage to her No. 78 Chevy, but Legge’s luck ran out during the second incident. This is where Daniel Suarez an innocent bystander got caught up in the mess.
The incident occurred with 97 laps remaining in Sunday’s race at Phoenix, and Legge was seen spinning out in Turn 2 while being lapped by Josh Berry. Unable to avoid the spinning car, the No. 99 car collided with Legge’s No. 78 Chevrolet at approximately 100 mph despite already slowing down. This collision effectively ended both drivers’ chances at a competitive finish, with Legge’s day done and Suarez limping home 23rd after running in the top 10.
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In a video posted after the race, Suarez made it abundantly clear that his issue wasn’t with Legge personally but with NASCAR’s oversight. “There’s nothing wrong with her. What is wrong is NASCAR,” Suarez stated firmly. “They cannot allow somebody with no experience to run in the Cup Series. Plain and simple.” The Mexican driver, who has the 2016 Xfinity Series Championship to his name, emphasized the safety concerns associated with inexperienced drivers competing on high-speed tracks.
Suarez’s criticism stems from a racing incident where he claims Legge’s inexperience led to an unpredictable reaction during her spin. According to Steven Taranto of CBS Sports, Suarez “had expected Legge to spin to the inside of the track, but she stayed in the groove – which he attributed to her lacking experience in what to do when a Cup car spins out.” The frustration was palpable in Suarez’s post-crash radio message: “F——ing lappers, man. Unbelievable.”
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This collision marks the second consecutive race where Suarez’s race was spoiled by a crash, following a wreck at Circuit of the Americas the previous week when his teammate Connor Zilisch crashed into him amidst heavy smoke. For Legge, who became the first woman to compete in the Cup Series race since Patrick’s retirement in 2018, the incident was a disappointing conclusion to what was already a challenging debut that included an earlier spin on lap 4.
The situation raises serious questions about NASCAR’s current protocols for allowing drivers to compete at its highest level, especially with the Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s high speeds on the horizon.
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From Legge’s perspective, car setup issues contributed significantly to her difficult day. “We made some changes to the car overnight, and they were awful,” Legge explained to Bob Pockrass after leaving the infield care center. “I was hanging on like the first stint, I was so loose and I was just hanging on to it. Then we kept making adjustments and we kept making the car way more stable for me… I wish we hadn’t made the changes.”
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If we look at the graph of Danica Patrick shows her 2012 movement from IndyCar to NASCAR while avoiding the immediate entry into the Cup Series path. She committed to one Xfinity Series season which provided vital experience before the launch of her Cup career in 2013. The calculated career progression allowed Patrick to master NASCAR racing fundamentals and find some joy in her racing career. A sixth-place finish at Atlanta in 2104 was her best finish in the premier series.
The Cup Series arrival approach for Katherine Legge diverged substantially from Danica Patrick’s method. Legge came with significant racing credentials and took the starting position as the first female driver since Patrick’s 2018 retirement in Phoenix at NASCAR’s top level but she lacked substantial experience in stock cars. Although she had five starts in the Xfinity Series, she had trouble keeping up with the rest of the field last Sunday.
Well, this also brings NASCAR’s newest rule Open Provisional under the firing line. Remember even four-time Indy500 winner Helio Castroneves ended his Daytona 500 debut with a crash. While NASCAR wants to attract more drivers from different disciplines to race in their premier series, they should streamline the process. Imagine such an incident happening in the regular season finale or high-stakes race where drivers are fighting for a spot in the playoffs.
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Although Daniel Suarez might be overwhelmed with emotions after a streak of performances, his frustration could lead to changes in how non-NASCAR drivers compete at the top level.