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For a quarter-century Katherine Legge has served as a trailblazer among women in motorsports. The 44-year-old made her debut in the NASCAR Cup Series this past weekend - much to the chagrin of one NASCAR star who had to deal with her.
During the Shriners Children's 400 in Phoenix, there was an incident on Lap 215 as Legge lost control coming off a turn and made contact with Josh Berry. That created a domino effect that resulted in Daniel Suarez - who had been racing in sixth-place - getting knocked out of his spot and ultimately out of contention for the win.
Taking to his personal vlog after the race, Suarez directed his frustration not at Legge, but at NASCAR for allowing someone so inexperienced to compete in the Cup Series.
“There’s nothing wrong with her. What is wrong is NASCAR,” Suárez said. “They cannot allow somebody with no experience to run in the Cup Series. Plain and simple. “You go to Las Vegas, to a fast track, it’s freaking dangerous. You cannot do that. And then here, honestly, this is not a so slow pace. Like, I hit her, and I was running 100 mph slowing down already.”
From Daniel Suarez's vlog: He didn't take fault with Katherine Legge so much as with NASCAR for letting her race Cup with little experience in stock cars.
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) March 11, 2025
"There's nothing wrong with her. What is wrong is NASCAR. They cannot allow somebody with no experience to run in the Cup… https://t.co/ECkyWEwP0d pic.twitter.com/L6xHud8LVw
Legge wasn't exactly thrilled with how she performed in her NASCAR Cup Series debut either. She told NASCAR on FOX after the race that it was a difficult start that was not helped by "some changes to the car overnight."
“It was a really rough start,” Legge said. “We made some changes to the car overnight, and they were awful. I was hanging on like the first stint, I was so loose and I was just hanging on to it. Then we kept making adjustments and we kept making the car way more stable for me. Then at the end there I think we were relatively quick compared to the field.
“So, it wasn’t bad. I wish we hadn’t made the changes, but you know, we’re trying to find some pace and we’ve found it throughout the race, but it was a rough start.”
As for Suarez, he might have a point. A lack of experience in NASCAR racing can be destructive not just to the driver, but to everyone around the driver.
While some would argue that Suarez himself didn't have much experience when he started competing full-time, Suarez had at least won the Xfinity Series the year before. It's not an apples-to-apples comparison.
Do you agree with Suarez's point? Should NASCAR be taken to task for allowing Legge to race?
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Short-lived Memphis-Arkansas Speedway was a tragic piece of NASCAR history
In a time well before NASCAR’s period of westward expansion saw a plethora of 1.5-mile tracks be built across the United States, the Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in Crittenden County, Arkansas was an oddity. The track was a high-speed, mile-and-a-half dirt track that featured some of the highest speeds on the NASCAR calendar in its time. Perhaps the most normal aspect of the track was the fact that, like many tracks of the time, it was built in the middle of nowhere. The track sat in Lehi, Arkansas — hardly a hotbed for anything, much less big-league stock car racing. Nevertheless, track owners Nat Epstein, Clarence Camp and Harold Woolridge somehow drew Bill France and 28 NASCAR Cup Series entries to northeastern Arkansas for the first time in October 1954 for the inaugural Mid-South 250. For a period of the sport’s history that featured some of the best stock-car driver to ever compete, the entry list for the track’s first race was relatively sparse in terms of star power. Three-time Cup champion and 1959 Daytona 500 winner Lee Petty led 150 of 167 laps in the first race at the new venue, but an axle issue relegated him to a third-place effort and gave Buck Baker the win. The second race at the track in 1955 showcased the appeal of racing on the high-speed, high-banked dirt track. Fonty Flock led 88 laps and won the race with an average speed of 89.982 miles per hour, a solid pace for the time. A reported crowd of 15,000 was on hand to witness the race. It was in 1956 that the track became infamous. A pair of fatalities among drivers Thomas ‘Cotton’ Priddy, 27, and Clint McHugh, 28, during the 1956 Mid-South 250 weekend solidified its place in NASCAR lore. McHugh’s accident occurred in qualifying on June 9. In his first attempt at qualifying for a Grand National Race, McHugh’s Oldsmobile flipped over a guardrail in Turn 3 and tumbled into a lake. While he was pulled back to land by fans, McHugh died at an area hospital from his injuries. During the race itself on June 10, Priddy was thrown from his vehicle on Lap 39 after contact with another car. Unlike McHugh, Priddy died instantly. “I knew what it was going to be like to be married to Thomas,” Priddy’s widow told the Louisville, Ky. Courier-Journal on June 11, 1956. “I went into the constant worry and pain with my eyes wide open, but I never told him to stop (racing). I expected him to be killed.” At that point, the writing was on the wall for the Memphis-Arkansas Speedway. Epstein, Woolridge and Camp knew that if the track was going to continue to attract NASCAR races in the coming years, it would have to be paved. The problem? Even in 1957, paving a 1.5-mile superspeedway cost $100K, an impossible sum of money for the track’s owners. Land such as that taken up by the speedway is a hot commodity in the Delta region. A farmer purchased the property in 1958 and flooded the infield in an effort to grow catfish. Eventually, the track that once served as a ring for NASCAR’s early gladiators was leveled and used as farmland for soybeans and rice. In a way, the Memphis-Arkansas Speedway encapsulated the unintended arrogance with which many tracks and sanctioning bodies in the early years of professional racing conducted themselves. A track that was once a fascinating venue quickly turned into the site of two incredibly tragic deaths and, after less than five years of racing, was both literally and figuratively leveled.
Cubs catcher lost to horrific-looking injury on same day he returns from IL
After working to return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup following an oblique injury, Miguel Amaya suffered a gruesome-looking injury in his first game back with the Cubs on Wednesday night. Running to first base, Amaya just beat out an infield single on a slow dribbler to shortstop when his left foot landed forcefully on the base, causing his leg to buckle and sending Amaya flying down the first base line. Following the injury, Amaya was carted off the field in Toronto with a towel over his face. The emotions shown by Amaya as he was carted off indicated he knew already he would miss more time in a season that has been marred by injuries. After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Amaya would be going back on the injured list with what was diagnosed as a left ankle sprain. X-rays, however, were negative. The 26-year-old Amaya had just told reporters after being activated from the 60-day injured list that he was thankful he was healthy. Just three at-bats later, Amaya was once again injured. Amaya's three at-bats against the Blue Jays on Wednesday represented his first game action since May 24, when he recorded just two at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds before leaving the game with an oblique injury. In just 96 at-bats this season, Amaya is slashing .281/.314/.500 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Amaya's injury is another blow for the Cubs, who have seen their lead in the National League Central evaporate as the Milwaukee Brewers have now won 12 consecutive games and are 20-4 since the All-Star break. As has been the case in Amaya's absence, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will continue to be the dominant presences behind the plate for the Cubs. Joining with Amaya, the duo has helped the Cubs record a 2.8 Wins Above Average (WAA) at catcher, the highest mark of any MLB team. After Amaya's injury, the Cubs would go on to post a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Commanders have major hang-up preventing them from paying Terry McLaurin what he's due
It’s been two weeks since Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin publicly revealed his trade request, and a resolution doesn’t appear to be in sight. Thanks to ESPN’s John Keim, we’re starting to get more insight into how the Commanders are approaching negotiations…and how they run counter to their star wide receiver’s financial desires. As we’ve assumed all along, the Commanders are wary of giving McLaurin a lucrative contract that would extend well into the player’s 30s. As Keim notes, the Commanders “rely heavily on analytics,” and those numbers aren’t particularly kind to receivers on the wrong side of 30. They may be onto something. Per ESPN Research, over the past five years, only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game (that number jumps to six players if you adjust for 60-plus receiving yards). Further, the team can simply point to the NFL landscape, as other teams are also clearly wary of paying aging wideouts. Among the 24 active wide receivers who are attached to the most guaranteed money, only Tyreek Hill was older than 30 when the deal was signed. McLaurin has continually pointed to his lack of mileage despite his age; he barely played during his first two years at Ohio State, meaning he may not have the same wear and tear as similar players his age. McLaurin is also naturally pointing to the stat sheet, as the receiver has continually produced despite uncertain QB play, uncertain ownership and a handful of different coaching staffs. Per Keim, the Commanders don’t want to pay McLaurin based on his past performance, with the front office preferring to shape any future contracts based on his projections for age-31-plus seasons. The organization also doesn’t want to set a new precedent by paying McLaurin, as it could convince future veterans to push for lucrative deals in their 30s. While McLaurin has taken the drastic measure of requesting a trade out of Washington, the organization is still convinced they have leverage in this showdown. After all, the player is still under contract for the 2025 campaign, meaning McLaurin will have to forfeit game checks if he sits out games. The team could even choose to slap him with the franchise tag next offseason (which could come in north of $30M), meaning they’re in full control of the player’s fate moving forward. The team is also skeptical that another suitor is going to willingly pay McLaurin the type of money he’s seeking. Per Keim, there are doubts around the league about whether another team would be willing to meet the receiver’s demands. Even if a clear suitor does emerge, Keim makes it clear that Washington’s front office won’t give the star away without receiving a haul. We heard recently that McLaurin wasn’t necessarily seeking a deal that matched fellow 2019 draftee D.K. Metcalf‘s deal with the Steelers. However, Keim says Metcalf’s contract has generally served as a guide for McLaurin, but it’s uncertain whether the Commanders wideout is looking to match the AAV ($33M) or total guarantees ($60M). Ultimately, one source believes the Commanders may agree to pay McLaurin a contract that will pay $28M per year. Of course, it’s uncertain if the player would even accept that offer. If that hypothetical maximum offer doesn’t end in a signing, a divorce may be the logical next step.
Ex-Steelers Decision Maker Delivers Harsh Statement About Cam Heyward
The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t overly thrilled to learn that defensive stalwart Cam Heyward was seeking more money before the 2025 season. Just ahead of the 2024 campaign, the Steelers and Heyward went through similar negotiations, with the organization feeling they had done right by their veteran leader. Heyward, however, saw things differently. News broke that the All-Pro defensive lineman was staging a hold-in, participating in team activities but withholding his full commitment while waiting for a new deal. Mark Kaboly has even noted how unusual this situation is, pointing out that it should be a straightforward resolution for both sides to reach an agreement and save face. The fact that it remains unresolved has led some to believe there may be deeper issues at play beyond just contract numbers. This standoff has fueled speculation about what is truly driving Heyward’s demands and whether the relationship between the player and the franchise has become more strained than the public realizes. Former Steelers pro personnel coordinator Doug Whaley, who spent a decade in Pittsburgh working under General Manager Kevin Colbert, weighed in on the matter this week. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, Whaley called the situation a significant misstep by Heyward and his camp. In his view, the veteran’s handling of the contract dispute could tarnish his standing with the team and complicate what should have been an easily negotiated extension for one of the Steelers’ most respected players. "Think about this," Whaley started in an interview with 93.7 The Fan Wednesday morning. "The 15 years of goodwill Cam Heyward has gained in the public and on the team, it's smashed over this lack of foresight. So to me, it's an abject failure from Cam. So I can understand why he has such vitriol from the fans because you should have did this before." Whaley has worked in professional football for decades and understands the inner workings of the league. His opinion on the matter carries validity, and it’s interesting to hear from someone who once made important decisions inside the Steelers’ building share where he stands. Heyward is the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner. When he received the honor, the Steelers fan base rallied behind him, expressing just how beloved he is in Pittsburgh. He still holds that status, but Whaley says he understands why some fans are upset with his request. "In the end, it's not on the Steelers," Whaley said. "This is on Cam Heyward and his camp." The coming weeks will be telling for both Heyward and the Steelers. Training camp and the preseason are usually a time for optimism, but this contract standoff has added an unexpected layer of tension. While most expect Heyward to be on the field when the games begin to count, the lingering negotiations could leave a lasting impression on how the organization and its fans view one of the franchise’s all-time great defenders. Steelers' Situation With Cam Heyward Causing Slight Tensions From the team’s perspective, it is a delicate balance between rewarding a player who has been a cornerstone of the defense for over a decade and making sound financial decisions for the future. For Heyward, it is about securing what he feels he has earned after years of leadership, production, and sacrifice for the team. Both sides have valid points, yet the longer this situation drags on, the more potential there is for frustration to build. Whaley’s remarks may not change the outcome, but they highlight a perspective from someone who knows the pressures of building a winning roster. Whether this ends with a handshake or more hard feelings, one thing is clear: the resolution of this standoff will play a role in shaping the Steelers’ 2025 season narrative. Do you agree with Whaley and his sentiments about Heyward?
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