Katherine Legge addresses Rockingham backlash, reveals death threats and hate mail

Katherine Legge revealed Tuesday she has received “hate mail, death threats and inappropriate sexual comments” since Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway. Speaking on her “Throttle Therapy” podcast, Legge responded to the criticism she’s faced.

Legge has no issue with constructive criticism. But when it becomes personal and turns into an attack on her gender among other things, that’s when it becomes a problem, she said. Legge called it an issue not just in NASCAR, but around the world of sports.

“Being a woman racing in NASCAR comes with an incredible sense of pride. And obviously it comes with a level of scrutiny and harassment,” Legge said. “The hate mail, the death threats, and the inappropriate sexual comments that I’ve received aren’t just disturbing, they’re unacceptable. Let me very clear, I’m here to race and I’m here to compete and I won’t tolerate any of these threats to my safety or to my dignity, whether that’s on track or off of it.

“Racing is a passionate sport and I understand fans have strong opinions. And honestly, I love that, and I respect that. Constructive criticism is part of the game. I’m always open to learning and improving, I will always take accountability for the mistakes that I make. However, what I think people need to understand is there’s a very thin line between feedback and personal attacks. It’s really disappointing for me to see how often that line gets crossed.

“The level of hate that myself and my team are experiencing at the moment is part of a broader issue that I believe women specifically face in male-dominated spaces. … We can’t normalize this issue. There’s nothing normal about it. It’s totally unacceptable. I have earned my seat on that racetrack. I’ve worked just as hard as any of the other drivers out there, and I’ve been racing professionally for the last 20 years. I’m 100% sure that the OEMs and the teams that employed me — without me bringing any sponsorship money for the majority of those 20 years — did not do so as a DEI hire, or a gimmick, or anything else. It’s because I can drive a racecar.”

Legge, who made her first career Cup Series start earlier this year at Phoenix, made just her sixth Xfinity start Saturday at Rockingham. As the leaders were lapping the No. 53 car, Legge slowed up, and William Sawalich ran into the back of her car. From there, Legge made contact with Kasey Kahne, who tried passing under the incident.

This was Kahne’s return to NASCAR. Fans were upset and blamed Legge. The comments were explosive and, in many cases, went too far.

Katherine Legge calls out hateful comments against her

“My performance and not my gender is what defines me as a competitor,” Legge said. “I haven’t been in NASCAR long enough to be accurately judged for that. You can’t judge me on three races. We need more accountability, in my opinion, from the fans, from the social media platforms, and from the organizations to ensure a safe environment for all the drivers, athletes, no matter where, when, what that may be, like me, who faced that barrage of death threats and toxic hate speech following literally every event.

“Having said that, despite all of the noise, I am more famous than ever. I’m here because I love the sport. I’m still here because I love the sport. I could be at home on the lake, enjoying my life, but I love racing. It’s intrinsic in me. No amount of hate will change that. You’re not going to make me quit or give up because I’m stronger than that.”

Katherine Legge will make six more Xfinity starts this season at the following racetracks: Talladega Superspeedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In Cup, she will continue to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports, beginning with the first-ever Cup race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on Sunday, June 15. She will make four more starts at the Chicago [Street Race], Sonoma Raceway, Watkins Glen International and Richmond Raceway.