Kasey Kahne’s return hindered by early wreck with Katherine Legge

Kasey Kahne‘s anticipated return and Katherine Legge run ended early, and quickly Satuday as the two came together just over 50 laps into Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Rockingham, leaving both with significant damage.

Kahne, a highly successful Cup driver who was making his first NASCAR start in nearly seven years, ran near the front of the field from the drop of the green flag. He briefly fell back to eighth but steadily marched forward in the first true green-flag run of the race.

Legge was hoping to gain more NASCAR experience on ovals, but she actually missed the show in qualifying with the Jordan Anderson Racing team. She was able to find a new ride for the race after failing to qualify. She replaced J.J. Yeley at Joey Gase Motorsports  (a fellow Chevy team), who scrambled to swap out the seat and add e.l.f. Cosmetics decals to the No. 53 car before the green flag.

Kahne was battling for William Sawalich for fourth on track when the pair came upon Legge. Running at a slower pace, Sawalich didn’t anticipate her entry speed and ran directly into the back of her. Legge spun to the inside, slamming into the right-front fender of Kahne before spinning back up the track and colliding with the outside wall.

Legge’s race was over, finishing 36th. Her Cup debut at Phoenix earlier this year also ended in an unfortunate DNF. She later placed blame on Sawalich, telling FOX’s Bob Pockrass: “I got taken out … I don’t have a disappear button on my steering wheel.”

Meanwhile, the Richard Childress Racing team lost a lap making extensive repairs to Kahne’s No. 33 Chevrolet. He remains in the race and has met minimum speed. Kahne finally got back on the lead lap at the start of the final stage after Sawalich was part of another caution. Kahne soldiered on to finish 14th, even after getting involved in another incident near the end of the chaotic race.

Legge later posted on social media: “I’m so proud of this team!! We were able to run a fast enough lap time in qualifications to put me comfortably in the race if not for Owner Points provisional. So that’s why my sponsors & partners were on board to help me get the track time I promised everyone we would get. They meant it when they said they support me, and believe in our program. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about Sawalich getting right up under the back of the car and taking me and subsequently others out of the race.

“Thank you Joey Gase Racing, Jordan Anderson, JJ Yeley, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and Team Chevy for having my back. See you all at Talladega!”

Photos from Rockingham – Race