With experience in Formula 1 and Indy Car, Katherine Legge isn’t new to the high-stakes world of motorsports. After all, her 2005 win in the Toyota Atlanta Series put her on the map over two decades ago! She even became the first woman in North America to take a major open-wheel race. And ever since, Legge hasn’t lacked in competitive spirit. Champ Car, IMSA endurance contests, Le Mans, and even a stint with Jaguar in Formula E, you name it and she’s probably driven it. However, there is one exception to her record, the NASCAR Cup Series.

Even after making a debut in Xfinity back in 2021, Legge didn’t cut it for the Cup Series. Now, it looks like that’s about to change. Speaking to fans in her Instagram story, she teased an appearance in the Cup Series and it has sparked the curiosity among fans.

“What’s next you ask…,” Legge captioned her Instagram story. Her four-word message on social media could be her hinting at a NASCAR Cup Series entry. Now, she didn’t slap a team logo on this or name-drop anyone specifically, but that Camaro ZL1 sighting is a massive clue. We can narrow our guesses to Hendrick Motorsports, Trackhouse Racing, and Richard Childress Racing for now. However, based on a Reddit post, some fans think it’s the #78 of B.J. McLeod she will drive for. His team, Live Fast Motorsports, fields part-time Chevys in some races throughout the season.

McLeod has already appeared at Daytona and at Atlanta this year. Perhaps he could give Legge the chance to hop into the seat at an upcoming race. For Legge, it won’t be her first time in NASCAR, as she has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. She drove the #15 for JD Motorsports in 2018 and the #07 for SS-Green Light Racing in 2023 in four and one race, respectively, with her best finish being P14 at Road America. Castroneves, who benefitted from the Open Exemption Policy (OEP) by making his debut at debut would’ve prompted NASCAR to bring more such stories, with Katherine Legge one of the next best candidates.

Speaking about her Xfinity outing, Legge had said, “I thought it was the coolest thing,” Legge said. “I love driving stock cars. I drove Xfinity a handful of times a few years ago, and I wanted to get back to doing more. In NASCAR, you need to earn a license. So, I’m qualified in NASCAR’s eye to drive on road and street courses and then probably the short ovals in lower-power cars. But you can’t just show up and say, you know what, I want to do the Daytona 500. Because NASCAR will go, you’re funny. Unless you’re Helio Castroneves, in which case they’re like, yeah, sure, we’ll make up a new rule for you.”

For now, fans are simply excited in predicting where this announcement can take Legge. 

Fan speculations only add fire to fuel for Katherine Legge’s mystery announcement

Online fan chatter is also electric. “Let me see Legge run a Cup race, She’s been a positive presence in every series I’ve seen her in.  Easy to root for.” an anonymous fan added. It’s no wonder fans are rooting for Legge. A few months ago during the 2024 Indy 500, Legge’s car had a failed motor, similar to three other drivers in the field. Instead of lamenting a missed chance, Legge made an effort to sign autographs for fans. It’s what the fans have adored the most about the driver. “Katherine Legge going Cup racing? ” Neat! “ Should Legge pull this off, she would be among a small group of open-wheel experts crossing over. Think Montoya, think Franchitti, drivers who brought flair and finesse to NASCAR’s rough-and-tumble world. Legge has that same capacity to astonish us.

Then comes the detective work. “That 78 font isn’t BJ’s, but it is obviously a Next-Gen car. Okay, sleuths, I see you perhaps she is trying an eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series trial? “ The case for a debut in the LFM car won’t be a long shot. Although McLeod has driven all the team’s Cup Series entries in the last two years, with other drivers stepping in as well. And while Legge doesn’t expect to get in at the superspeedway races, all of which the team is participating in, their entry at Charlotte’s Coca-Cola 600 might be the perfect time for Legge to jump in.

Despite this, one fan wants to see her run a different road course. “I would like to see her try Chicago. As this is probably the last year of the street race, let us get as many open cars as we can.” The timing is what has fans particularly excited. Add to that the possibility of Legge repeating Shane van Gisbergen’s Cup Series debut when he hopped in and won the race, you start to see just why fans are excited to see her in the Cup Series!