Katherine Legge’s journey in NASCAR has been a wild ride, full of grit, doubters, and now, a big moment of validation. The 45-year-old from Guildford, England, a four-time Indianapolis 500 starter, is set to tackle Indianapolis Motor Speedway next weekend, pulling double-duty in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Brickyard 400 and the Xfinity Series race. Piloting Live Fast Motorsports’ No. 78 Chevrolet in the Cup Series and racing for Jordan Anderson Racing in Xfinity, Legge is diving into her first-ever doubleheader weekend in NASCAR.

It’s a bold step for a driver who’s been splitting time between the two series in 2025, with 10 starts across both. Legge’s path hasn’t been easy. As the only woman currently competing in both NASCAR’s Cup and Xfinity Series, she’s carried a spotlight and scrutiny since her Cup debut at Phoenix earlier this year, where she became the first woman to start a Cup race since Danica Patrick. Her season’s been a mix of promise and bad breaks, especially in Xfinity, where incidents in all five starts left her with a best finish of 32nd at Texas.

But her Cup runs, particularly on road courses, have shown flashes of brilliance, like a career-best 19th at the Chicago Street Race, the first top-20 by a woman in Cup since 2017. This weekend’s Indy return is extra special, backed by Desnuda Organic Tequila and Indiana-based Droplight. “It’s always an honor to drive at Indy, but having the chance to compete in both the Cup and Xfinity races thanks to Desnuda and Droplight is going to be epic,” Legge said, noting the void she felt missing the Indy 500 this year.

Her sponsors see her as more than a driver. Droplight’s Phil Williams called her a leader who “defies limits,” while CEO Joseph Anderson compared her team’s precision to a high-growth business, praising her tenacity. Legge’s Chicago performance silenced some critics, proving she can hang with the big names. Her lap times outshone veterans like Brad Keselowski and Daniel Suarez, showing Live Fast’s potential when backed by RCR’s technical alliance. Still, doubts about her goals and the team’s competitiveness lingered until this Indy announcement.

The Brickyard 400, a crown jewel event, and the Xfinity race on July 26-27 mark a pivotal moment. With Team Chevy, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and her sponsors in her corner, Legge’s ready to make history again. Her Chicago top-20 was no fluke she’s building toward a full-time Cup ride, and Indy could be the stage to prove it. Fans on Reddit lit up, their reactions a mix of excitement and curiosity, finally giving Legge the nod she’s earned through sheer resilience.

Fan reactions to Legge’s Indy double-duty

Fans didn’t hold back on Reddit, buzzing about Legge’s Indy announcement. One wrote, “Wonder if she will continue her streak of finishing above Hocevar.” Legge’s 19th at Chicago beat Carson Hocevar, who’s struggled on road courses, and Indy’s non-drafting layout could see her keep that edge, especially with her road-racing pedigree.

Another fan cheered, “The spirit of the Indy road course international takeover movement lives on!” Legge’s Indy 500 and IMSA background ties her to the wave of global drivers like Shane van Gisbergen impacting NASCAR. Her Chicago result showed that crossover strength, making her a flag-bearer for this movement.

Questions popped up too: “I don’t understand her goal with Live Fast. Obviously BJ is putting together even mediocre cars. Is she trying to get a full time ride or just taking pride in finishing the race?” Legge’s been clear she’s gunning for a full-time Cup seat, confirming it in an exclusive interview with our Lucky Dog on Track team, and her focus is on consistent laps to build that case, not just finishing races.

“Stand back, Katherine. I’ll handle the haters,” one fan urged. Legge’s faced ugly backlash, from Phoenix spins to death threats, admitting to SpeedFreaks she was “embarrassed” after early mishaps. Yet her Chicago top-20, backed by peers, showed she’s pushing through, earning respect.

Finally, a fan mused, “I’m curious to see if the car will be competitive or not. They have the funds to get a competitive one off with RCR.” Live Fast’s small budget leans on RCR’s alliance, and Chicago proved they can deliver Legge’s lap times topped Keselowski and Suarez. With Desnuda and Droplight’s backing, Indy could certainly bring another upset.