How Katherine Legge introduced the woman energy motion to NASCAR

When Katherine Legge noticed the primary render for her pink race automotive, coated in e.l.f. branding, her response was swift. “Oh god, that’s so cliché. Do now we have to do a pink automotive?” she recollects asking her group. 

The veteran driver, whose expansive resume consists of open-wheel racing, endurance and now NASCAR, had spent most of her profession rigorously sidestepping the ‘feminine driver’ label. In a sport dominated by males, Legge was intentional about constructing her fame on grit and efficiency, not her gender. 

“I actually tried to not level out the truth that I used to be a lady and simply be a race automotive driver,” she says.  

However when the sweetness model e.l.f. Cosmetics got here knocking in 2023, the chance to do one thing totally different – and disruptive – emerged. Throughout a go to to New York Metropolis, the 44-year-old Brit discovered herself with a brand new, huge platform and commenced to see her distinctive place in motorsport not as a legal responsibility, however as a power. Then got here the pink automotive. 

“It was the perfect factor that ever occurred as a result of it began this woman energy motion,” Legge says one 12 months on. 

Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing Honda

Picture by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photographs

On the Indy 500, e.l.f. went huge with a full-scale drone present and a splashy fan activation that painted the paddock within the model’s signature colors. 

“For the primary time, the ladies [in the paddock] felt like they have been seen and validated and that they might be female and put on make-up and nonetheless be a badass,” she says.  

However when her Indy 500 seat fell by means of the next 12 months, she thought the partnership would possibly too. As an alternative, e.l.f. doubled down.  

“Lots of corporations say they stand for empowering girls… however e.l.f. truly 100% stood behind me,” she says. “I’ve by no means felt so empowered.” 

Quite than retreat, the model pivoted to help Legge’s 2025 NASCAR marketing campaign. She’s already made historical past as the primary girl to safe a top-20 end in a Cup Collection race since Danica Patrick in 2017 and hopes e.l.f.’s message of visibility and inclusion will resonate with a complete new fan base. 

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photographs

“Hopefully it has the identical impact that it did at Indy, and it creates this woman energy motion within the NASCAR paddock,” she says, noting the fan base has been slowly “warming up” to her. 

“It’s a piece in progress. And it’s taken a lot onerous work from everybody on my group.” It goes with out saying that leaping right into a 3,400-pound inventory automotive hasn’t precisely been a stroll within the park. 

“It’s a completely totally different sport… I see the inexperienced flag and it’s like, ‘the place am I?’ I’ve to consciously take into consideration all the pieces as a result of it does not really feel prefer it’s an extension of me but.” 

From new circuits to heavier equipment, and even a brand new dialect, the educational curve has been steep. 

“I’ve to get out of talking in IndyCar language and communicate the language of the engineers: like, ‘it’s free,’ ‘it’s tight.’ However a few of them are so Southern that it takes me a minute to compute,” she laughs. 

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Picture by: Logan Riely / Getty Photographs

“I’m positive they suppose the very same factor once I’m on the radio with my British accent… [but] my spotter and my crew chief are wonderful and really communicative. It’s been superior.” 

Legge’s outcomes are proof that her information hole is shrinking with each race weekend.  

“I’ve obtained this renewed sense of motivation: I’m learning, I’m watching races, I’m information. I’m completely dedicated,” she says. “I wish to end the place I feel I’m able to ending. If the automotive is able to tenth, I wish to end tenth. If it’s able to successful, I wish to win.”  

Although she’s all the time prioritised respect from the racing group over splashy headlines – “proper now, all I would like is respect for attempting and going on the market and placing all of it on the road,” she says – Legge is laser targeted on combating her approach to a aggressive automotive that may enable her to problem for wins. And he or she’s assured that her expertise provides her a aggressive edge. 

“Expertise counts for a lot. These younger youngsters [coming into NASCAR] are quick, however they have not made all of the errors, they usually’re not scared but,” she says. “It’s worthwhile to have a wholesome respect for what you are doing. It’s simpler to sluggish someone down than it’s to hurry someone up.” 

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Expertise, she argues, doesn’t boring bravery; it directs it. 

Legge’s partnership with e.l.f. underscores how seamlessly her two missions intertwine: win races and widen the motorsport tent. The pink automotive that when made her wince is now a rolling billboard for risk. 

She’s proof that femininity and ferocity aren’t mutually unique – and that you would be able to present up precisely as you might be and nonetheless “be a badass.”