Daniel Suarez: NASCAR's Process, Not Legge, to Blame for Phoenix Crash
Daniel Suarez addressed concerns following his collision with Katherine Legge at Phoenix Raceway during her Cup Series debut. After a constructive conversation with Legge this week, Suarez clarified his frustration lies with NASCAR's approval process rather than Legge herself.
Racecar driver looking over shoulder
The incident occurred when Suarez, running in sixth position, collided with Legge after she spun off Turn 2 with 98 laps remaining. Legge, who initiated contact with Suarez post-race, competed for Live Fast Motorsports in a deal arranged just 10 days before the event.
"I give her a lot of credit for reaching out," Suarez stated at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "I believe she got set for failure. It doesn't matter if you're a great driver or a bad driver. If you are thrown into one of the most difficult series in the world to be competitive, it's just not fair."
While Legge is approved for short ovals and road courses in NASCAR, Phoenix's one-mile track presents unique challenges. Multiple drivers echoed Suarez's sentiment that the situation didn't properly reflect Legge's racing capabilities and extensive background.
Suarez emphasized his support for diversity in motorsport while advocating for a more rigorous approval process: "Having Hispanics, African Americans, women — it's super important. There's nothing wrong with her; it's just the process. I believe the process to allow somebody to run in the Cup Series should be harder — for respect to the driver who is trying, to respect the fans, and to respect the drivers and teams that are running full time."