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A female NASCAR driver recently disclosed that she has been the target of online threats and harassment stemming from a wreck in North Carolina over the weekend. Katherine Legge, a veteran in motorsports, is speaking out against the disturbing messages and advocating for respectful fan engagement.
Katherine Legge Targeted with Online Abuse After NASCAR Incident
Katherine Legge, piloting the No. 53 car in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – a developmental series for the premier NASCAR Cup Series – found herself in an unforeseen accident during a race at Rockingham Speedway.
The British racer appeared to navigate a turn slower than anticipated, resulting in a rear-end collision with the No. 18 car driven by William Sawalich. Legge’s vehicle also made slight contact with the front right quarter panel of the No. 33 car, operated by Kasey Kahne.
Following the incident, Legge revealed on her “Throttle Therapy” podcast that she has been subjected to a barrage of harassing messages—including death threats—in the aftermath. While not directly viewing the comments, she confirmed they were communicated to her.
Legge Speaks Out Against Harassment
“I keep coming to you all with this drama that I hate. It hasn’t been that way in the past, so this is a new phenomenon for me,” she began.
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Katherine Legge revealed she received death threats and sexually explicit harassment subsequent to an incident during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Rockingham, North Carolina.
Legge, a seasoned motorsport competitor, has four Indianapolis 500 starts.
Earlier this season, she debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway in March.
“Being a woman racing in NASCAR, it comes with an incredible sense of pride. It comes with a level of scrutiny and harassment.
“The hate mail, the death threats and the inappropriate sexual comments that I have received are just disturbing. They’re unacceptable.”
Legge Emphasizes Her Commitment to Racing
She continued: “Let me be very clear: I am here to race. I’m here to compete. I won’t tolerate any of these threats to my safety, or to my dignity, whether that’s on track or off of that.
“Racing is a passionate sport, and I understand fans have strong opinions. I love that and I respect that about our sport. Constructive criticism is part of the game, and I’m always open to listening and improving. I will always take accountability for the mistakes that I make.
“However, what I think people need to understand is that there’s a line between feedback and personal attacks, and it’s really disappointing to see how often that line gets crossed.”
Details on the Racing Incident
Describing the incident with Sawalich, Legge said, “I stayed on my line and kept doing my speed.”
She added, “He charged into the corner a bit too hard, which is the speed difference that you see, and he lifted up a lane into me.”
Legge has raced in the Cup Series this season, making her debut at Phoenix last month. She’s competed in two previous Xfinity Series seasons. The Rockingham start was her first Xfinity race since July 2023.