KASEY KAHNE – RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING PHOTO
by Derek Jackson
Rockingham, NC – All eyes were on Kasey Kahne this weekend in Rockingham, as the veteran driver returned to the sport for the first time since 2018. Unfortunately for race fans and Kahne alike, he found himself getting wrecked by Katherine Legge on lap 54 in the race as Legge was getting lapped by Nick Sanchez.
While getting lapped by the NASCAR Xfinity Series leaders, Legge slowed dramatically as she was being passed by Nick Sanchez and then she wrecked into Kasey Kahne. Looking at the broadcast replays, Katherine Legge allowed Nick Sanchez to pass on the inside lane. Going into that turn, she stayed in her groove but slowed, leaving William Sawalich nowhere else to go.
After getting out of the infield care center, Katherine Legge was able to talk about her wreck with Kasey Kahne. “I’m fine, just exacerbated.” Legge told FOX Sports. “You know, I think I must have been really bad in a previous life or something because bit unlucky. I mean, there was not much I could do. I just got taken out by Sawalich.”
Legge was asked about the contact specifically, and her comfort while being lapped. She remained adamant that she had given Nick Sanchez enough room, and Sawalich ran into her.
“I mean, I’d given the inside lane to whoever had just gone past me, and I thought we were going to finish the corner, but he just moved up the racetrack and just understeered into my left rear. So, not much you can do.” The livid Legge then lashed out at the Joe Gibbs Racing driver saying, “I don’t have a disappear button.”
Even to the casual observer it was clear to all that Legge should not have checked up so hard. Timing is everything, and Sawalich was trying to get the arc he wanted into the turn. From Legge’s perspective, William Sawalich was to blame.
Her post-crash interview was met with instant outrage online when racing fans lit up the internet. Fans failed to buy her argument as Legge faced a massive backlash on social media who were shocked that she deflected blame on someone else. Television replays of the event left no room for doubt as to the cause of the crash.
This was not Legge’s only controversy of the day. Earlier in the morning, Katherine Legge previously failed to qualify for the race. Legge’s sponsor, e.l.f. (Eyes, Lip, Face), facilitated a last-minute driver swap with Joey Gase Motorsports’ driver J.J. Yeley. Xfinity race fans could not help but to notice the hypocrisy and immediately voice their displeasure with the 44 year old woman driver from England who could not even qualify for the race. “I’ve never felt more empowered than I do with e.l.f. by my side,” said Katherine Legge
No stranger to controversy, in her 1st start as a Cup Series driver at Phoenix on the 4th lap of the race Legge took out Daniel Suarez in an early race wreck. Suarez didn’t hold back when criticizing NASCAR’s rush to include her in the race while having no experience in the Series. Legge’s response? She blamed her crew for giving her “an awful car for the race.”
While often accused of her inexperience within NASCAR, Legge does have wide experience in a number of different racing series. Legge has raced with Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, European Le Mans, Formula E, Formula Three, Formula Renault, Formula Ford, Champ Cars, the Delta Wing Sportscar Championship and others.
This resume might initially look impressive, but Legge’s best season was twenty years ago in the Toyota Champs Car Atlantic Championship. She finished 3rd that season, with three wins and five podiums.
Legge has 11 more races this year with the Cup and Xfinity series. Let’s hope she gets things straightened out soon.