“I’m no Kyle Larson; I wish I was,” Katherine Legge once said, admiring the talent of the NASCAR star. But that hasn’t stopped her from chasing her dreams. She has raced in the Indianapolis 500, the Xfinity Series, and the ARCA Menards Series. She also went up against some of the best dirt racers in the world by participating in the Chili Bowl Nationals. Despite not advancing far, she came away inspired. Now, she is ready to prove herself on NASCAR’s biggest stage.

Legge will drive the No. 78 Droplight Chevrolet Camaro for Live Fast Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway on March 9. Her debut marks a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to race in the Cup Series since Danica Patrick in 2018. Her entry continues the legacy of women in NASCAR, adding her name to an exclusive list of female drivers who have competed at the highest level of stock car racing.

Notably, since 1949, only 17 women have started a NASCAR Cup Series race. From pioneers like Sara Christian to modern trailblazers like Danica Patrick, here’s a look at every woman who has ever competed in the Cup Series.

Women power of NASCAR world!

Danica Patrick (191 Starts, 2012-2018)

Danica Patrick is the most successful woman in NASCAR history. She made 191 Cup Series starts and became the first woman to win a Cup Series pole at the 2013 Daytona 500. Her best finish was sixth at Atlanta in 2014, tying the best result for a female driver in the modern era. Apart from that, she also had seven top-10 finishes. Notably, she completed her NASCAR journey with a Daytona 500 appearance in 2018. Though she never won a race, her presence in NASCAR helped break barriers for female drivers.

Janet Guthrie (33 starts, 1976-1980)

Janet Guthrie was a true trailblazer. She was the first woman to qualify for both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. An aerospace engineer-turned-racer, Guthrie broke into NASCAR in 1976 and went on to make 33 starts. Her best finish was sixth at Bristol in 1977, a record that stood until Danica Patrick matched it in 2014. Guthrie’s impact was recognized when she was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006.

Louise Smith (11 Starts, 1949-1952)

Known as the “First Lady of Racing,” Louise Smith was fearless behind the wheel. She competed in 11 Cup races and was one of the first female drivers to gain national attention. Smith won 38 races across various series, making her one of the most successful female racers of her time. She was the first woman inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.

Shawna Robinson (8 starts, 2001-2002)

Shawna Robinson was the first woman to compete full-time in the Xfinity Series and later made eight Cup Series starts. She was a standout in the early 2000s, earning respect in a male-dominated sport. Robinson’s best finish was 24th at Daytona in 2002. Notably, she made 61 starts in the Xfinity series with one Top 10 finish at Watkins Glen in 1994. She remains one of the few women to race in all three of NASCAR’s national series.

Sara Christian (7 starts, 1949-1950)

Sara Christian was the first woman to ever compete in a NASCAR race. She made history on June 19, 1949, at Charlotte Speedway. In her two-year-long career, Christian competed in seven Cup Series races and finished fifth at Heidelberg Raceway in 1949. Notably, she is the only female driver to have a top-five finish in the Cup Series history.

Patty Moise (5 starts, 1987-1989)

Patty Moise had a long career in NASCAR’s lower divisions but made five Cup Series starts between 1987 and 89. However, she was best known for her time in the Xfinity Series, where she competed in 133 races and earned a top finish of seventh at Talladega in 1995. She also owned Michael Waltrip Racing, which promoted female race car drivers in the sport.

Robin McCall (2 Starts, 1982)

Former Cup Series driver Robin McCall is the youngest female driver to qualify for a cup race in NASCAR history. She achieved this feat at the tender age of 18 in 1982. She made two starts in 1982 at Michigan International Speedway. Though her Cup career was short-lived, she remained involved in racing and married fellow driver Wally Dallenbach Jr. Notably, her daughter Kate Dallenbach is also involved in racing. She joined Richard Childress Racing’s driver development program in 2015.

Ethel Flock Mobley (2 Starts, 1949)

On July 10, 1949, the Daytona Beach Road Course witnessed a historic moment when three female drivers made their racing debut in the NASCAR Cup series. Apart from Sara Christian and Louise Smith, Mobley also made her historic debut. Interestingly, Mobley competed against three of her brothers and finished 11th by beating two of them. While she participated in just two cup races, her racing skills were on display in the ASCAR modified series, where she has more than 100 race starts.

Ann Chester (2 starts, 1950)

Ann Chester competed in two Cup races in 1950. In her debut run, she finishes 22nd only to 21st at Hamburg. Her brief career didn’t bring major success, but she was among the first women to enter NASCAR’s top level.

FiFi Scott (2 starts, 1955)

Like Katherine Legge, Fifi Scott also made her NASCAR Cup Series debut at Phoenix Motor Speedway in 1955. On her debut, she finished 23rd after an engine issue prematurely ended her race with 26 laps to go. However, she was able to top that the next week in Tuscon. In that event, Scott drove to a career-best 13th-place showing.

Ann Bunselmeyer and Ann Slaasted (1 start, 1950)

Ann Bunselmeyer and Ann Slaasted both made one Cup series start in 1950. Notably, Slaasted participated in the Daytona 500 and finished 22nd in a 25-car field. Meanwhile, Bunselmeyer raced once in 1950 at Vernon, finishing 18th. Due to poor record-keeping at the time, little is known about her debut race.

Marian Pagan (1 start, 1954)

The Lynwood, CA native Marian “Mopsy” Pagan made one Cup race start in 1954. She debuted at Oakland Stadium and finished 18th after completing 261 out of 300 laps before crashing out.

Goldie Parsons (1 start, 1965)

Goldie Parsons made her only Cup start in 1965 at Moyock. She finished 14th after completing 242 laps. Notably, she was the wife of NASCAR legend Benny Parsons. He won 21 cup races, including the 1975 Daytona 500, in his more than 500 career race starts.

Christine Beckers (1 start, 1977)

The Belgian driver Christine Beckers competed in the 1977 Daytona 500. Unfortunately, brake issues ended her race early, and she finished dead last at 37th.

Lella Lombardi (1 start, 1977)

Italian driver Lella Lombardi also made her Cup Series debut in 1977 at Daytona. She started 29th but had rear-end issues that forced her to retire early, finishing 31st. Notably, she died in 1992 due to cancer.

Apart from these cup racers, there are more than 60 female drivers who have participated in the NASCAR Xfinity series. The number crosses 100 when it comes to the truck and modified series. With Katherine Legge joining the iconic list this weekend, we at Essentially Sports wish that, in coming years, this number will increase.