Katherine Legge sends strong message to haters on DEI remarks and death threats

“First of all, I want to say that being a woman racing in NASCAR, it comes with an incredible sense of pride, and obviously it comes with a level of scrutiny and harassment,” Legge started. “However, I will say the hate mail, the death threats and the inappropriate sexual comments that I've received aren't just disturbing, they're unacceptable.

“Let me be very clear. I'm here to race and I'm here to compete, and I won't tolerate any of these threats to my safety or to my dignity — whether that's on track or off of it. Racing is a passionate sport, and I understand that fans have strong opinions, and honestly, I love that and I respect that about our sport.

“Constructive criticism is part of the game, and I'm always open to learning and improving. I promise that I will always take accountability for the mistakes that I make. However, what I think people need to understand is there's a very thin line between feedback and personal attacks. And it's really disappointing to me to see how often that line gets crossed."

Legge said social media has become more toxic in recent years and acknowledged online bullying exists across every major sport around the world. She said the level of hate she and her team have experienced is part of a broader issue that women deal with in male-dominated spaces, and noted how the FIA has created a document addressing the matter because it's just as prominent in Europe and around the world.

“It's not just a USA thing,” she noted. “We can't normalize, in my opinion. There's nothing normal about it. It's totally unacceptable. I have earned my seat on that racetrack. I've worked just as hard as any of the other drivers out there, and I've been racing professionally for the last 20 years. I'm 100 percent sure that the OEMs and the teams that employed me without me bringing any sponsorship money for the majority of that 20 years did not do so as a DEI hire or a gimmick or anything else. It's because I can drive a race car.

“So my performance and not my gender is what defines me as a competitor. And I haven't been in NASCAR long enough to be accurately judged for that. You can't judge me on three races. We need more accountability, in my opinion, from the fans, from the social media platforms and from the organizations to ensure a safe environment for all drivers, athletes – no matter where, when, what that may be. Like me who face that barrage of death threats and toxic hate speech following like literally every event.

“Having said that, despite all of the noise, I am more focused than ever. I'm here because I love the sport. I'm still here because I love the sport, right? I could be at home on the lake enjoying my life, but I love racing. It's intrinsic in me. No amount of hate will change that. You are not gonna make me quit or give up because I'm stronger than that.”