Throttle Therapy with Katherine Legge

Katherine Legge talks with Tim Baughman, INDYCAR’s Sr. Director of Track Safety and Medical Services, about how motorsport safety works behind the scenes and how it has evolved. Baughman traces his path from Indianapolis paramedic training at Methodist Hospital and a career in the Indianapolis Fire Department to joining the Indy 500 safety team in 1993, traveling with the IRL from 1996, and becoming IINDYCAR’s safety director after retiring as an assistant chief in 2018. He describes the culture, training, planning, and execution required to respond within seconds, including coordination with race control, safe vehicle positioning, driver assessment, transport decisions, and track cleanup and repairs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Description Katherine Legge is joined by Dr. Julia Vaizer, medical director for IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the first female medical director in IndyCar history. Vaizer explains how early motorsports fandom and a MotoGP tragedy pushed her to merge racing with emergency medicine, leading her to become the first fellow in the Motorsports Medicine Fellowship and later IndyCar leadership. They discuss how IndyCar medical teams coordinate with other series and specialists, research projects like safest driver extrication and analyzing IMS patient data, and what race day at the Indy 500 looks like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge recaps her month of May and her Double Duty attempt. After a Watkins Glen NASCAR Cup return, she joined a newly assembled Indy 500 program, praising the crew and describing setup struggles, conservative downforce choices, and qualifying 26th/27th after drawing last in line. She reveals the travel disruptions that caused her to miss Indy obligations,  the behind-the-wheel perspective from the end to her Indy 500 race, and car challenges during the Coca-Cola 600. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge welcomes Marshall Pruett back for a part two focused on IndyCar’s underlying state, who holds power, and how series decisions mix racing, business, and politics. They discuss IndyCar’s demographic, the push to “youthify” via digital platforms, and what IndyCar, IMSA, and NASCAR can learn from each other about cars, drivers, and event presentation. Pruett explains how he evaluates rumors, PR spin, timing, and when to withhold accurate stories to avoid undue harm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headed into Memorial Day weekend and her Double Duty attempt, Katherine Legge welcomes NASCAR champion Kyle Larson. Kyle recounts his racing upbringing, starting at age seven in Northern California racing dirt “outlaw carts,” moving into sprint cars, USAC midgets and Silver Crown, and transitioning to NASCAR. Kyle shares his experiences attempting the Indy 500–Coca-Cola 600 double, covering logistics, pressure, weather disruption, and the IndyCar hybrid learning curve, and gives Katherine advice on her attempt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine sits down with her manager, Klint Briney, for a candid conversation about chaos, crisis management, sponsorship politics, impossible timelines, and why attempting “The Double” sounded like a good idea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge returns to IndyCar after a year and a half away! She explains why Indy demands respect, how equipment differences shape results, and why she pushed to rejoin with HMD Motorsports supported by AJ Foyt Racing. She previews a busy May with sim work and the NASCAR Cup Series Watkins Glen race before heading into Indy 500 preparations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge shares an update on her newly announced return to the Indy 500 with HMD Motorsports and AJ Foyt Racing, describing the massive behind-the-scenes effort, sponsor and team coordination, and her push to be as prepared and competitive as possible after a year away from IndyCar (and after a NASCAR season). Joined by producer Grace for listener Q&A, Katherine responds to Stephen A. Smith’s claim that NASCAR drivers aren’t athletes, explaining how she trains (CrossFit, running, core/upper body, heat prep), and sharing her pre-race routines and recovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge welcomes racer Dystany Spurlock to discuss her transition from motorcycle drag racing to her ARCA debut, where she had a historic top-10 finish. Dystany recounts starting motorcycle drag racing as a teenager at Virginia Motorsports Park on a Suzuki GSX-R 750, learning through test days, YouTube, and her godfather, and explains the ladder from XDA to NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle, where she debuted last year. A former football corner/safety and the first girl in her county to play, she outlines her goal to reach NASCAR Cup, juggling NHRA with her ARCA debut while training in North Carolina with sims, film, and late-model seat time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge welcomes engineer and team manager-turned-motorsports journalist and podcast host for RACER, Marshall Pruett to trace his racing roots – from his mechanic father to retiring from IndyCar work just to be sucked back in through coaching and engineering before starting his media career. They dig into the tricky dynamics of reporting on friends and break down why “identical” IndyCars still vary so much.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge welcomes F1 culture writer and host of No Grip, Lily Herman, who explains how her Engine Failure newsletter, born from Drive to Survive-era curiosity, and her previous podcast, Choosing Sides, led to her new show that treats F1 like a “traveling circus.” They discuss everything from the astrological placement of drivers and paddock gossip, to F1’s new rules and the F1 Academy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge talks with AJ Foyt Racing president Larry Foyt about running an IndyCar team and where the sport is headed. Foyt says AJ first told him “no way” to racing, so he quit other sports, swept floors at the shop, and started in go-karts. They discuss the grind of sponsorship and budgets, why results are about people and culture as much as money, moving operations from Texas to Indianapolis to find talent, working well with Santino Ferrucci, and how technical alliances (like their Penske partnership) shape IndyCar’s future and potential growth to three cars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge is joined by author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and Mind Over Mountain host, Cheryl Strayed to discuss their mindsets on endurance. They reflect on how Cheryl’s motto that you can always take “one more step,” mirrors Katherine’s “one more lap” survival during a brutal IndyCar race, fearing she’d let women down if she quit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine Legge introduces her mom, Vivienne (“Mama Legge”), on her first-ever podcast to discuss Katherine’s “born without fear” childhood—from walking at eight months and being a nonstop “human dynamo” to a newborn heart issue. Vivienne admits why she can’t watch Katherine race now, and recalls learning about Katherine’s 2006 crash.They laugh about heavy right feet, Dad quitting smoking to buy tires, and Vivienne hating the gym despite building “a tiny weeny” arm muscle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by longtime friend Melissa Eickhoff, CEO of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. They discuss the challenges the Pikes Peak course presents, from the weather to the wildlife, and the constant problem-solving involved to make the race happen. They cover safety and driver selection, the heartbreak of shortening the course due to wind and debris, Fan Fest’s 35,000-person downtown takeover, and iconic moments from the race.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge welcomes close friend Andy Lally to discuss his transition from racing to becoming president of the Trans Am Series. Lally explains how the opportunity arose while he was seeking a Trans Am ride, the realities of running a series, and his plans to improve Trans Am’s production and marketing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Associated Press senior motorsports writer Jenna Fryer, who talks about her path into journalism, how she began covering racing after Dale Earnhardt’s death, and what it was like learning the sport while navigating tense moments with drivers. Jenna reflects on the hardest stories she has written, including Alonso missing the Indy 500, and previews a new project on the France family’s role in American motorsports and how they were portrayed during the trial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller to talk about her background growing up in the Earnhardt family, driving late model stock cars, and how she transitioned into the business side of racing. They discuss Kelley’s relationship with her parents, the influence of racing on both sides of her family, and the early building blocks of JR Motorsports. They also explore driver development, age and maturity in the sport, sponsorship challenges—especially for female drivers—and Kelley’s perspective on NASCAR’s direction and the impact of the recent court case. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Justin Marks, former professional driver turned entrepreneur and president of Trackhouse Racing. Justin shares insights into his early inspirations, driven by his grandfather, and his unconventional path into racing. They explore his transition from racer to team owner, the importance of innovative thinking, team collaboration, and leveraging new technology like AI in motorsports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by racing legend, Mark “the Kid” Martin. They discuss his motorsport journey, from racing on dirt tracks in Arkansas to dominating the ASA series and eventually becoming a celebrated NASCAR driver. Mark shares anecdotes from his youth, learning car geometry and building race cars himself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by motorsports broadcaster Wendy Venturini. Wendy discusses her upbringing in the racing world, drawing inspiration from her father Bill Venturini's all-female pit crews, and how she balances her multiple roles as a motorsports executive, broadcaster, and Burn Bootcamp franchise owner.  They talk about the importance of storytelling in sport broadcasting, the impact of Drive to Survive on Formula 1’s popularity in America, and the changing dynamics in NASCAR. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by racing driver Graham Rahal. They discuss his early experiences growing up in the Rahal racing family and his transition into professional racing. Graham shares his passion for cars and motorcycles, addresses the challenges of balancing team management with driving, and reflects on his business ventures outside of racing. The conversation also covers teammate dynamics, the evolving nature of motorsports, and Graham's hopes for his legacy in the racing community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by racing driver Conor Daly. They discuss his early influences and experiences in a racing family to his development as a driver and transitioning across different series. They discuss the importance of perseverance, including getting back in the car after an engine fire and the challenge of attracting sponsors and cultivating a presence in the racing world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by VP of Global Motorsports Competition, Eric Warren. They discuss how he transitioned from aerospace engineering to the racing industry, balancing technical expertise with leadership, and the importance of adaptability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge chats with the pod’s producer, Grace, about holiday traditions, lessons learned in 2025, and what it’s like to try to organize a race schedule over the holidays. Katherine shares her fitness and racing goals for this year, as well as the list of personal goals she keeps in her journal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Mike Shank of Meyer Shank Racing, to explore his journey from attending races at Mid-Ohio as a child to becoming a successful team owner. Shank shares his experiences in racing, including his early career in Formula Atlantics and his transition to sports car racing. They also discuss the impact of the IMSA-Grand-Am merger, the importance of charters in motorsports, and the challenges facing NASCAR.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge speaks with legendary racing driver and team owner, Bobby Rahal. Rahal delves into his roots, discussing how his father's passion for racing inspired his own career. He reflects on the milestone moments of his career, including his Indy 500 victory as a driver in 1986 and as a team owner later on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine is joined by longtime friend and supporter Kim Kalkhoven to discuss how Kim convinced Kevin Kalkhoven to give Katherine a chance in racing. They reflect on Katherine’s debut race, her rise in motorsport, and Kevin’s significant contributions throughout. Kim shares anecdotes about her life before meeting Kevin, their journey through the racing world, and Kevin’s legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Todd Stephens, Chief Relationship Officer at Droplight. As one of Katherine’s sponsors, they reflect on their first year together in NASCAR, Todd’s journey from aspiring athlete to businessman, and the origins of Droplight’s venture studio model. They discuss the importance of resilience and embracing failure, and their plans for the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by former professional racer and expert in driver development Josh Wise, to discuss how he transitioned from sprint car racing to supporting drivers through the physical and psychological demands of racing at Wise Optimization. They cover the challenges faced by female drivers, the application of sim racing, and the psychological barriers to achieving top-level performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Red Envelope Sports partner Shantal Lamelas, to discuss how she became one of the few female agents certified with the NFL. She gives insight into how boutique sports agency Red Envelope works collaboratively to support athletes during and after their careers. Also, Katherine and Shantal share their fitness philosophies and their love for adventure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by the commissioner of NASCAR, Steve Phelps, to discuss his journey from Chef Boyardee to racing. They discuss NASCAR’s growth, from international expansion to how they incorporate fan feedback with the Fan Council. They also talk about the importance of introducing new OEMS to the sport and future possibilities for electric and hybrid vehicles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge checks in after the end of the NASCAR season and reveals her secret weakness. Also, Cara Krstolic joins Katherine to discuss authenticity, balancing professional expectations, and how racing has changed them both.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge welcomes renowned motorsport journalist, Jamie Little. They discuss Jamie's journey from hanging out with her dirt-biking neighbors to becoming a pit reporter and play-by-play announcer for NASCAR. She reflects on pivotal moments in her career, the evolution of social media's impact on journalism, and the importance of accurate reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, it’s that time of the month and Christina Nielsen joins Katherine Legge to check in as Katherine navigates securing sponsorships and the uncertainty of next season. They also share the story of how they almost got scammed, highlighting the darker sides of the racing industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge checks in after the NASCAR Cup Series race in Las Vegas. She discusses her challenges with car handling, her team’s racing strategy, and the big impact of small adjustments to the car tire pressure. She also shares what’s coming up next for her, including her hopes to race at Talladega this weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Ben Kennedy, the Executive Vice President and Chief of Venue & Racing Innovations Officer at NASCAR. They discuss Ben's extensive background, being the great-grandson of NASCAR's founder, and his journey through various roles in the racing industry—from being a race car driver to a team owner and now an executive. They also discuss his involvement in innovative developments like in NASCAR’s schedule and the integration of new audiences and venues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, we stalked Katherine’s comments to answer all your burning questions. She shares the grossest aspects of being a race car driver, the details of her workout routine, and what she wants to be when she grows up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine delves into the day-to-day business aspects of being a race car driver, from sponsorship relationships to merchandise. She checks in following her trip to Nashville and looks ahead to her next race in Vegas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, it’s that time of the month and Christina Nielsen is back to answer all your burning questions. Katherine and Christina tackle the perception of female race car drivers, the traits that make drivers great, and which one of them is better at car setup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine is joined by Janet Guthrie, the first woman to qualify and race in the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 to talk about building her own engines, finding sponsorship, changing people’s minds, and being accepted. Janet shares how she transitioned from being an aerospace engineer to a race car driver, how her family felt about her racing, and the adrenaline and adventurous spirit that drives her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Graham Smith, General Manager of Ten Tenths Motor Club, to discuss how he’s continuing his family’s legacy with Speedway Motorsports and the Charlotte Motor Speedway. He shares how they designed and opened the Ten Tenths Motor Club’s track, how he fell back in love with racing, and the details of his favorite and least favorite cars he’s owned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Jordan Anderson, driver and team owner of Jordan Anderson Racing. Anderson shares how he went from racing to building his own NASCAR team in the Xfinity Series. They discuss the challenges of team ownership, the culture he's built, and his passion for helping drivers succeed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, the season is winding down and Katherine is joined by Brandon Thomas, VP of Vehicle Design at NASCAR to discuss his journey from designing suspension and steering systems for tractor trailers to crafting Next Gen cars. Brandon shares insights from his career in both IndyCar and NASCAR, highlighting the differences in designing vehicles for both series. They also delve into the ‘Garage 56’ NASCAR project at Le Mans, and how a race "run by a pack of Americans" was received by French sports car fans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine checks in after the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. Then, it’s that time of the month and Christina Nielsen is back to share what school doesn’t teach you about other careers in racing, outside of driving. They give their advice to anyone interested in working on the track, no matter what role you want to pursue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by Kory Marchisotto, CMO of e.l.f. Beauty. Kory shares what brought e.l.f. to the Superbowl, Twitch, and the Indy 500, and the response they’ve gotten to their venture into motorsports. They also discuss the philosophy behind e.l.f. 's success – from showing up in unexpected places and speaking to underrepresented audiences, to democratizing access and supporting the e.l.f.z. themselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine checks in after her double duty weekend in Indianapolis at the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity races. Katherine literally gets boiled alive and grabs her second top-20 finish in five Cup starts this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, with Brickyard coming up this weekend, Allison Melangton, the Senior Vice President at Penske Entertainment (the company that owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway), joins Katherine to discuss the amazing women in leadership at IMS. Allison also shares how she appeals to “epic event chasers” and the distinct challenges of organizing major events like the Super Bowl, the Indy 500, and the Brickyard 400.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine reviews last weekend’s Sonoma Cup Series Race and answers a listener question about some Indy 500 lore. She’s then joined by the fastest woman alive, Brittany Force, to discuss how she transitioned from being an aspiring teacher to holding the Top Fuel speed record in drag racing at a whopping 341 mph. They talk about the mental and physical training needed for an NHRA driver, the women who inspired them, and the fan who gave Brittany a good luck charm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of the month, and Christina Nielsen is back to discuss the F1 Academy, trends in separating men and women in driving, and what that means for the global conversation around women’s sports. Also, Katherine is home from the Chicago Street Course NASCAR Cup Race and shares the lessons she learned on the way to her top 20 finish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.