ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. – It’s only been two weeks since Katherine Legge made her NASCAR Xfinity Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – but the consensus of the garage was the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller driver was a breath of fresh air.
Colliding the two worlds of sports car and stock cars can be a daunting challenge for any driver no matter their accomplishments, but Legge took the challenge well and contended for a top-20 finish before her engine expired in the closing laps of the Rock N Roll Tequila 170.
Still, Legge a mainstay competitor for Michael Shank Racing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (Acura NSX GT3) is looking forward to building on what she learned at Mid-Ohio and
applying it towards a second-effort in Saturday afternoon’s Johnsonville 180 at Road America (Wisc.).
“I love this track first all of it’s one of my favorites,” Legge said Friday morning at Road America. “This one, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta have to be one three of the best tracks in the whole world. Most storied tracks. I nearly died here once which is a testament to how cool this place is for me to get back in and feel like it’s one of my favorites.”
The Guilford, England native hasn’t had to go far for support in her NASCAR journey. Andy Lally, an accomplished road racer and Justin Marks, a former Xfinity Series winner and Legge’s teammate in IMSA have been vital in her adaption to stock cars.
“As for preparation, I’m really lucky I’ve got this guy (Andy Lally) sat right next to me,” she added. “He’s one of my best friends. And every question I have whether it’s at midnight I know I can shoot him a message and say what do you do in this situation or what do you there?
“He’s been kind enough to help me a) get out on the NASCAR grid because he knows the players and b) kinda talk me through it. Believe it or not, I’ve been racing for a number of years and I’m still in this paddock very much a rookie. I have no idea where I’m going or where I’m supposed to be and all that good stuff.
“I’m lucky I have him. I have Justin Marks, one of my teammates at IMSA, he’s also been very helpful. And I have a great team of people around me. Thanks to Airtec for giving me the opportunity, JD Motorsports, Johnny’s (Davis, team owner) been awesome, his crew have been awesome.
“They have made the transition a little smoother. It’s not easy. I’ve never driven anything like a stock car before. Luckily, I know the tracks, which has made it a little easier. It’s just a lot of fun.”
Her 30th place finish at Mid-Ohio after qualifying a respectable 22nd didn’t showcase the strides she made during her Xfinity Series debut.
“I learned so much at Mid-Ohio,” Legge sounded. “The first time I did a pit stop was in the race. I had no idea. I said to Justin (Marks) because he qualified around me. I’m just going follow you and see how this plays out. Because Andy (Lally) told me all this stuff where you make contact or if they hit you and what to do. You’re not allowed to take, you’re not allowed to block. It’s a completely different form of driving.
“It’s a different sport. So, I’ve got all this in my head and I wanted to watch it all transpire. Then, I saw this guy (Lally) come behind me and I’m like perfect, I’m just going to follow him, so that’s what we did. We went past a bunch of cars and I learned a whole lot. “I kept doing that throughout the race, because I kept going to the back.
Of all her experiences and accomplishments in Motorsports, Legge admitted that her first tango in a stock car was, “one of the most fun experiences I’ve had in a race car.”
Busy leaving her marks in the open wheel and road racing worlds, Legge said Friday morning she had always wanted a stab at NASCAR and while the dots never connected, this time they did – but it took a lot of direction and input from others.
“I wanted to drive a stock car for a very long time,” Legge sounded. “Hearing everyone talk about it, like Andy (Lally) describes driving it in the races and seeing how happy and animated he gets – I mean what wouldn’t make you want to drive a stock car?
“Like I said, it’s a different sport. I didn’t know anybody. I’m friends with AJ Allmendinger and I go to a few of his races but like I didn’t anybody to know teams to talk to or anything.
“So, I’m really lucky that I know Andy (Lally) and I know Justin Marks and they kinda help me through it. That’s why I got this opportunity thanks to Steve and Eileen (sponsor) and I wouldn’t of had the first clue on how to even break into this world had it not been for those guys.
“I’ve always wanted to do it, it’s just I guess timing and everything has come together and I’m a very lucky girl.”
Looking ahead, Legge said she would be open to advancing her NASCAR career from road courses to ovals.
“Oh absolutely,” she said about running a NASCAR oval. “I have a bit of oval racing experience but that’s in an IndyCar. I don’t know if it translates at all in any shape or form, probably doesn’t. But, yes, I would love too.”
But before she can look at her next opportunity – road course or oval, there’s still 45 laps for her to digest Saturday afternoon at Road America’s 4-mile course.
“I’m coming in with no expectations,” she said. “I’m just trying to do the no-mistake theory again, cause I made a few (mistakes) at Mid-Ohio just not knowing what to expect. If I can minimize those then honestly, realistic would be top-15 (finish), anything more than that would be gravy.”
In addition to IMSA and NASCAR, Legge will also drive for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in the new Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy Series, a part of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
