Motorsports has long been a male-dominated arena, but Lindsay Brewer, who is 28 years old, joins a lineage of women who challenged the male dominance, joining the league of figures like Danica Patrick and Katherine Legge who have led the charge. Patrick, often overlooked as a female driver, grabbed an eighth-place finish in the 2013 Daytona 500, proving women could certainly thrive in NASCAR. “It’s ironic that I’m passionate about that because I was a girl in a guy’s sport,” Patrick said about her equality fight. But how do these breakthroughs echo today?

Katherine Legge amplified that impact with a 19th-place run at the 2025 Chicago Street Race, facing intense scrutiny. “Being a woman racing in NASCAR… comes with a level of scrutiny and harassment,” she noted. These veterans inspire others to break gender barriers and get behind the wheel. So, just like them, how is Brewer paving the way?

Lindsay Brewer’s inspiration and trailblazing path

In an exclusive interview with host Andrew Whitelaw, senior journalist at EssentiallySports, Lindsay Brewer opened up about the figures who motivated her in motorsports. She credits veterans like Katherine Legge, Danica Patrick, and Susie Wolff for breaking ground.

“I mean, there’s some great people have paved the way, like Katherine Legge is a big inspiration of mine. Obviously, Danica Patrick has done a lot for women in the sport and like just showcasing that you can be at the top levels. And I really like Susie Wolff. I think she’s amazing in what she’s doing with F1 Academy now is great,” Brewer shared.

This acknowledgment stems from her own climb, starting in karting at age 11 and progressing through the Skip Barber Formula Race Series in 2021, where she earned her first podium. Brewer’s journey reflects how these role models fueled her determination in a tough field. Legge’s resilience, despite facing death threats after crashes, and Patrick’s record seven top-10 Cup finishes encouraged Brewer to pursue Indy NXT with Juncos Hollinger Racing in 2025.

She draws from their examples to overcome doubts, much like Patrick’s push against stereotypes in a masculine sport. Brewer’s motivation ties back to seeing women succeed, driving her to compete in series like the Lamborghini Super Trofeo with RAFA Racing. Now, Brewer aims to motivate the next generation of female drivers.

“And I mean, I would like to say I’m paving the way for girls and women who want to get into the sport as well. Just by having the following that I’ve been blessed to have, I think I’m showcasing that, look, it doesn’t matter what you look like. It doesn’t matter if you want to have fake nails or like to be glamorous; you can still be in a male-dominant sport. You can still do anything. You set your mind to,” she explained.

This message resonates amid her strong 2025 runs, including a top-10 at Road America, proving glamor and grit coexist. Her path hasn’t been without hurdles, like limited funding early on, but Brewer’s social media presence has built sponsorships, echoing how Patrick leveraged visibility. By embracing femininity while racing hard, she challenges norms, much as Wolff does through F1 Academy. Brewer’s efforts show young girls they can very well belong in the driver’s seat.

As Brewer honors her inspirations, one stands out for recent team support. Let’s look at how Katherine Legge’s owner stepped up for her.

McLeod’s seat sacrifice for Legge

B.J. McLeod, co-owner of Live Fast Motorsports, chose to share his No. 78 Chevrolet with Katherine Legge in 2025, prioritizing her growth. This came after Legge’s solid outings, including a 17th at the Brickyard.

McLeod explained, “I enjoy helping Katherine and splitting the time with her…To see the team succeed with her, and I still drive some, like, I don’t want to be the driver all the time ‘cause it’s way harder to succeed with two people than it is with one.” His decision reflects a commitment to building the team around Legge’s talent.

This sacrifice followed Legge’s rookie-like season in Cup and Xfinity, where she logged Live Fast’s first back-to-back top-20s. McLeod noted the challenges, “Our stuff’s gotten pretty good because it’s hard to do that, especially when someone hasn’t seen a NASCAR roval and never been in a Cup car.” By stepping aside for races like the Charlotte Roval, he aimed to boost consistency for the non-chartered entry.

The move has paid off, with Legge delivering the team’s best campaign yet, surpassing prior seasons’ top-20 counts. Locked into fields like Daytona alongside other open cars, Live Fast benefits from this shared approach. McLeod’s choice underscores support for women in NASCAR, helping Legge chase her Indy 500 dream while strengthening the squad.