NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin didn’t hold back when weighing in on Katherine Legge’s ambitious return to the NASCAR race track.
Katherine Legge’s Return to NASCAR Grabs Mark Martin’s Attention
Last week, Legge announced that she will make seven more appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series this year for Live Fast Racing, one of them being at the Mexico Cup Series race.
She will also race in the Xfinity Series at Rockingham, Talladega, Texas, Charlotte, Nashville, Atlanta, and Indy with Jordan Anderson Racing. Legge will be in the cockpit of the No. 32 Jordan Anderson Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series and the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet for the Cup Series.
Martin issued a candid assessment of Legge’s upcoming schedule in response to veteran NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass’ tweet on X.
“Katherine Legge will do upcoming Cup races at Mexico, Chicago, Sonoma, Watkins Glen and Richmond for Live Fast Racing… and Xfinity races at Rockingham, Talladega, Texas, Charlotte, Nashville, Atlanta and Indy with Jordan Anderson Racing,” Pockrass said.
In response, Martin said, “I think @Rockingham1965 will be the biggest challenge for @katherinelegge of all these. I can’t wait to see the @NASCAR_Trucks and @NASCAR_Xfinity back at the Rock.”
I think @Rockingham1965 will be the biggest challenge for @katherinelegge of all these. I can’t wait to see the @NASCAR_Trucks and @NASCAR_Xfinity back at the Rock. https://t.co/CHRlpAiD4b
— Mark Martin (@markmartin) April 15, 2025
While Martin’s comment might sound like a warning, it is not far off as the Rockingham Speedway, nicknamed “The Rock,” is a high-wear, 1.017-mile oval famous for its abrasive surface and heavy tire falloff, demanding excellent car management and precision from drivers.
Earlier this year at Phoenix, Legge made her Cup Series debut, becoming the first woman since Danica Patrick in 2018 to race in the series. However, her race did not go as planned, as she ended up 30th overall in a DNF. She also got involved in a controversial wreck with Daniel Suárez.
Talking about her Phoenix race to NBC Sports, Legge said, “I know [Phoenix] wasn’t my best work. I made a mistake, right? I made a lot of mistakes during the race, tried to minimize them. And then there was that one mistake that obviously ended Daniel’s race and cost me my reputation, which I intend to get back. But it was a mistake.”
As Legge expands her NASCAR race plans, the road ahead is anything but an easy drive. Along with Rockingham, races at Charlotte and Mexico City will also be challenging as around 40 drivers are expected at these races, meaning cars would have to go home if they can’t post a fast qualifying time.