British racing driver Katherine Legge has revealed that while she doesn’t believe the death threats she's received will be acted upon, NASCAR is taking no chances. The organization is providing a security detail for her upcoming races, and its head of security has also informed law enforcement authorities in her hometown about the situation.
NASCAR Commissioner Condemns Online Abuse
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, speaking to CNN, did not hold back in his criticism of the vile posts aimed at Legge.
“I want to be crystal clear about this, we condemn this behavior. It is unacceptable, this is not appropriate for NASCAR, sports, or the world,” Phelps stated.
Phelps also fiercely defended Legge's position in NASCAR, pushing back against critics who have questioned her place on the grid.
“This is a woman who has competed very successfully in all forms of motorsports and we want her here at NASCAR. They can take their opinions and their hate right out of NASCAR, because there’s just no place for it,” he added.
Adjusting to NASCAR: Legge’s Early Challenges
Legge’s entry into NASCAR has not been without its hurdles. So far this season, she has recorded two DNFs (Did Not Finish), openly taking responsibility for one of them. However, at 44, Legge brings a wealth of experience, having competed in IndyCar, open-wheel racing, electric cars, and sports cars.
“You name it, I’ve driven it,” Legge told CNN earlier this year. Despite her extensive motorsport background, she admits NASCAR presents a fresh and demanding challenge.
“I’m having a great time on these awesome tracks, driving these beasts,” she said with a smile. “I’m hoping to get some results towards the end of the year. All I can do is keep improving and, if they have the capacity, they will change their opinions, and it will die down a little bit. But time will tell.”
Tackling Online Abuse: A Bigger Mission
Beyond her ambitions on the track, Legge believes the broader solution to online harassment lies in changing societal attitudes.
“The reasonable people in the population think that it’s unacceptable, right? It’s bullying. It’s something that you’re taught as a child isn’t cool,” she explained.
“I didn’t set out to be a role model,” she admitted. “I just set out to be a racing driver and with that comes a responsibility.”
Inspiring Others Through Resilience
Facing circumstances beyond her control, Legge has embraced her new role as an example for those struggling with bullying and harassment.
“I tried to be the best role model that I could be for like, a nine-year-old Katherine, act as a beacon of light and maybe somebody being bullied somewhere, even if it’s just one person, if they see this and they think, ‘OK, I’m gonna ignore it,’ then it’s been worth it,” she said.
As she continues her NASCAR journey, Katherine Legge is determined not only to compete at the highest level but also to use her platform to stand strong against hate and inspire resilience in others.
Legge says that while she welcomes fan engagement online, the amount of vitriol is only getting worse.
“Online bullying is getting more toxic, and I think that somebody needs to call it out,” she said. “It’s shocking to read some of the vile things that people write, there just seems to be this whole online movement where people think that it’s OK to say these things that they would never have the courage to say to people in real life; or absolutely shouldn’t.”