At the recent Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway, NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suárez collided with debutant Katherine Legge, leading to his early exit from the race. Legge, a seasoned racer in other series, was making her Cup Series debut and struggled with car control during the event. citeturn0search3
Suárez was running in sixth place when Legge spun off Turn 2, causing him to crash into her vehicle. He expressed his frustration over the incident, stating, “There’s nothing wrong with her. What is wrong is NASCAR. They cannot allow somebody with no experience to run in the Cup Series.” citeturn0search4
Legge’s participation raised concerns due to her limited experience with NASCAR’s Next Gen cars. Before the race, she acknowledged her lack of oval racing experience, saying, “I feel well-supported and as prepared as I possibly can having never driven on an oval like this, a NextGen car.” citeturn0search1
The crash has sparked debate about NASCAR’s approval process for drivers with limited experience on high-speed tracks. Suárez voiced concerns about safety, especially with upcoming races at fast tracks like Las Vegas, calling the situation “f***ing dangerous.” citeturn0search1
In summary, the incident has ignited discussions regarding driver qualifications and safety protocols within NASCAR, highlighting the challenges of integrating less experienced drivers into high-stakes races.
