“If you want to get sponsored, nobody’s gonna do it for you. You have to dig in and do the difficult things.” Katherine Legge’s father taught her this lesson. Coming from a non-racing family, nobody understands this better than Legge. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon, some have to earn every step in their path.

Legge, who never backs off from giving her bold opinions, gave her thoughts on how a wealthy backing might get you early chances and better tools, but it’s the mentality that still separates the drivers.

Katherine Legge’s take on racers with ‘silver spoons’

“I think that if you’re giving it on a plate, then it doesn’t mean as much to you, cause you didn’t have to do as much. and I definitely see that in a lot of drivers.”

Legge’s words make clear that the divide in racing isn’t just financial, it’s psychological. She elegantly pointed out that not every racer out of nepotism has done really well.

She explained that older generations of drivers, such as Jenson Button, who didn’t have wealthy parents or long junior careers handed to them, developed a relentless scrap-it-out mentality just to get noticed.

“Although now I will also say it seems like the ones who are getting it on a plate are doing really well because they kind of appreciate what they’ve got,” Legge said on her Throttle Therapy podcast.

This mindset affects how drivers value their opportunities and how hungry they remain to prove themselves. But at the same time, Legge also acknowledged the fact that the drivers with enough support today actually tend to do quite well because they appreciate the privilege and have access to development programs.

“It’s fascinating to think about the psyche that goes on behind because in all sports, there’s a psychologist that specializes in that sport, but in racing, there really hasn’t been up until now.”

This reshapes the narrative that while money and ease of entry can reduce the urgency for some, it can also fund resources such as coaching and simulation work that make a driver more prepared. What remains a critical unknown, she emphasized, is the mental game that how background shapes resilience, risk-taking, and the will to extract everything from every chance given.

Legge’s experience with the mindset divide she discussed is not just about talent or money, but about mental strength to handle isolation, bias, and the demanding nature of racing today. Her journey gives a real, human face to the psychological and cultural battles that shape who succeeds on and off the track.

And if the silver spoon culture wasn’t enough, the gender issue is another battle that Legge fights with.

Katherine breaking NASCAR’s boy culture

NASCAR is one of the most male-dominated sports, where women often lose the spotlight. But the sport does have some iconic female racers like Katherine Legge, who’s continuously making efforts to break the deep-rooted ‘boy culture’ of NASCAR.

She recently shared how, despite her skills and experience, people still often sideline her to talk to her sponsors or others, rather than speaking directly to her.

“I want to be taken seriously, like, talk to me. I’m the one doing the deal.”

Legge also highlighted the double standard female drivers face off the track. When she’s determined and focused, some label her “difficult,” but if a male driver shows the same attitude, he’s seen as dedicated and driven. That bias adds another layer of challenge, making mental toughness even more important.

“As a woman, if you’re hard, then you’re a bi*ch. If you’re a bloke and you’re driving around in a race car, you’re just dedicated, and you know what you want.”

In 2025, a major controversy happened after her Cup Series debut for Live Fast Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway. Legge’s car contacted Daniel Suarez’s car, which ended his chances as he was running sixth at the time. This controversy had led to a line of death threats and vulgar verbal harassment towards Legge.

“The hate mail, the death threats, and the inappropriate sexual comments that I have received aren’t just disturbing — they’re unacceptable.”

But it didn’t cut down her determination or desire to continue following her goals.

“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 my dignity whether that’s on track or off of it,” she said.

Despite these obstacles, whether gender or silver spoon, Legge continues to push boundaries and focus on the only thing that ultimately matters — racing.