Patrick Emerling

Patrick W. Emerling Bio

Patrick W. Emerling is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner born September 19, 1992, in Orchard Park, New York. He has built a diverse motorsports career spanning multiple NASCAR national series and regional competition. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, piloting the No. 1 Chevrolet for USNEPower Motorsports. Emerling is also active in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a part-time basis, demonstrating a rare ability to compete across NASCAR’s broadest range of competition.

Emerling’s racing résumé reflects a driver who has carved out a sustained career through persistence and versatility. From his roots in the Whelen Modified Tour to appearances in NASCAR’s national series, he has established himself as a consistent competitor. His deep ties to the Northeast racing community and his willingness to race across different series and formats have made him a recognizable figure in stock car racing circles. He continues to add to his experience with each season, balancing team ownership responsibilities with his duties behind the wheel.

Early Life and Background

Patrick W. Emerling was born and raised in Orchard Park, New York, a town with a rich motorsports culture in the greater Buffalo region. Growing up in Western New York, Emerling was immersed in an environment where automotive enthusiasm runs deep. His family has a longstanding connection to the automobile industry, having been involved with car dealerships in the Buffalo area for many years, providing a natural entry point into the world of motorsports. This family background gave Emerling both exposure to and support for a racing career from an early age.

The Western New York region has produced numerous notable NASCAR competitors over the years, and Emerling’s upbringing in that racing-rich community helped shape his path. Surrounded by the strong local stock car racing culture, he gravitated toward the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as his launching pad into competitive motorsports. The combination of family automotive ties and proximity to world-class modified racing venues created the ideal environment for Emerling to develop his skills as a young driver before eventually advancing to national-level NASCAR competition.

Path to NASCAR

Emerling formally began his racing career in 2011 when he entered the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, one of the most competitive regional stock car series in the United States. He started in the No. 07 Chevrolet and Ford fielded by his own team, stepping directly into full-time competition at the highest level of modified racing. He finished his debut season in thirteenth place in the overall points standings, a solid first year in a demanding series that helped him build the foundation for a long career. He ran the full schedule consistently through 2015, steadily improving and finishing fifth in the overall standings that year, signaling his arrival as a legitimate championship contender at the modified level.

After establishing himself as a consistent top-ten Whelen Modified Tour driver, Emerling continued running select modified races in subsequent years while broadening his scope toward national NASCAR competition. In 2017, he achieved his first career victory in the Whelen Modified Tour at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he also earned pole position. That season he posted two top-five finishes and three top-ten finishes. Also in 2017, he made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut, driving the No. 83 Chevrolet Silverado for Copp Motorsports at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, starting 20th and finishing 23rd. He returned to Truck competition at Texas Motor Speedway later that same season. By 2020, Emerling had reached the NASCAR Xfinity Series, making his debut driving the No. 02 for Our Motorsports at the spring Bristol race, marking his entry into NASCAR’s second-highest national series.

Patrick W. Emerling Career

Early Career (2011–2016)

Patrick W. Emerling’s professional racing career officially began in 2011 with a full-time drive in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Operating his own team, he ran the No. 07 Chevrolet and Ford throughout his debut season and finished thirteenth in the championship standings. He continued running the full Whelen Modified Tour schedule through 2015, developing his craft on modified stock cars at tracks throughout the Northeast. His efforts were rewarded with a fifth-place finish in the overall standings in 2015, a significant result that demonstrated his growth as a driver and team operator in a fiercely competitive regional series.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Breakthrough (2017–Present)

The 2017 season marked Patrick W. Emerling’s breakthrough year in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He captured his first career series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, a milestone win that came alongside a pole-position start for the same event. He recorded two top-five finishes and three top-ten finishes in 2017, making clear that his move to full modified competition was paying dividends. In 2018, he came agonizingly close to another victory at Loudon, finishing second to Chase Dowling in a closely contested race, while accumulating three top-fives and five top-tens across the season. He continued to run select modified events in 2019 while expanding his national NASCAR involvement, and in 2021 he finished second in the Whelen Modified Tour championship with three wins. By 2024, he returned to full-time competition on the tour, partnering with Rich Gatreau to form a new team. He has continued in 2025 competing full-time in the No. 1 Chevrolet for USNEPower Motorsports, while also running part-time on the ROC Modified Tour and in open modified events.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2017–2025)

Patrick W. Emerling made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2017 with Copp Motorsports, driving the No. 83 Chevrolet Silverado at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He started 20th and finished 23rd after engine problems curtailed his day. He returned to Truck competition at Texas Motor Speedway later in 2017, starting 23rd and finishing 26th after being involved in a crash. Over the following years, Emerling made additional Truck starts with various teams, including Henderson Motorsports and Spire Motorsports, driving Nos. 75 and 07/7 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs. In 2025, he returned for part-time Truck Series competition, driving the No. 75 truck for Henderson Motorsports at North Wilkesboro Speedway and the No. 07 truck for Spire Motorsports at Pocono Raceway.

NASCAR Xfinity Series (2020–2025)

Emerling’s NASCAR Xfinity Series career began on May 20, 2020, when he was announced as the driver of the No. 02 for Our Motorsports at the spring Bristol race. He returned for a part-time schedule in 2021 in the team’s No. 03 car, though early-season qualifying challenges led Our Motorsports to acquire the No. 23 car jointly fielded by RSS Racing and Reaume Brothers Racing before the Las Vegas race in March. He would run his 2021 Xfinity events in that car. In 2022, Emerling partnered with Joey Gase to form Emerling-Gase Motorsports, which fielded the No. 35 car in the Xfinity Series, with both drivers sharing the ride along with other competitors. That same year he also drove the No. 5 car for B. J. McLeod Motorsports at Daytona in August, a Ford fielded in collaboration with EGM. In 2024, Emerling ran nineteen races as the primary driver of the No. 07 Chevrolet for SS-Green Light Racing, driving full-time in that car after parting ways with Joey Gase. He continued that arrangement in 2025, returning for a second part-time season with SS-Green Light Racing in the Xfinity Series, driving the No. 07 Chevrolet SS.

USNEPower Motorsports Era (2024–Present)

In 2024, Patrick W. Emerling entered a new phase of his Whelen Modified Tour career by partnering with Rich Gatreau to form his own team and return to full-time competition in the series. Driving the No. 1 Chevrolet for USNEPower Motorsports, Emerling committed to a complete schedule, marking a significant step as both driver and team co-owner. The arrangement has continued into 2025, with Emerling piloting the No. 1 Chevrolet full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, demonstrating his long-term commitment to the series that has been the backbone of his career.

Driving Style and Strengths

Patrick W. Emerling’s driving profile reflects the characteristics typical of top modified tour competitors: aggressive race craft, strong qualifying ability, and comfort on a wide range of track types. His first career win came from the pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway, underscoring his speed on larger speedways. His success in the Whelen Modified Tour, a series that demands versatility across short tracks, road courses, and superspeedways, speaks to his adaptability. As a team owner alongside his driving duties, Emerling has developed a deeper understanding of car setup and race strategy, which informs his approach on track.

Notable Races and Milestones

Emerling’s first Whelen Modified Tour victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017 stands as the defining moment of his career to date, achieved from pole position. His second-place finish at Loudon in 2018, narrowly beaten by Chase Dowling, demonstrated his ability to run at the front consistently. Finishing second in the 2021 Whelen Modified Tour championship with three wins was another career milestone. His debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Bristol in 2020 represented a personal career achievement, as did the formation of Emerling-Gase Motorsports in 2022, marking his expansion into Xfinity Series team ownership.

Patrick W. Emerling Career Wins

Patrick W. Emerling’s career wins are concentrated in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he has captured multiple victories including his breakthrough win at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017 and additional wins during his 2021 runner-up championship campaign. He has not yet recorded a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, though he has run competitively in both on a part-time basis. His ability to win at the modified level and compete effectively at the national series level highlights the breadth of his talent as a driver.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Highlights

Patrick W. Emerling’s first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win came at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017, a race in which he also started on pole position. The 2017 season produced two top-five finishes and three top-ten finishes overall, signaling his emergence as a genuine contender. In 2021, he won three races and finished second in the Whelen Modified Tour championship, his best points finish in the series. That season cemented his reputation as one of the tour’s elite drivers. He returned to full-time competition in 2024 with USNEPower Motorsports and has continued his pursuit of victories and a championship in the No. 1 Chevrolet in 2025.

Other Wins and Performances

Emerling has also competed successfully in the ROC Modified Tour on a part-time basis, adding open modified racing to his schedule. His Truck Series and Xfinity Series outings have not yet produced a victory, but his Whelen Modified Tour accomplishments represent the core of his career win total. His consistency across multiple series underscores his standing as one of the most active and accomplished modified drivers transitioning into NASCAR national series competition.

Patrick W. Emerling Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Patrick W. Emerling comes from a family with deep roots in the Buffalo, New York automotive community. His family has been involved with car dealerships in the Buffalo area for a long time, providing the kind of automotive environment that can foster a young driver’s interest in racing. That family connection to the car business has been cited as an important influence in Emerling’s motorsports journey, offering both practical support and industry knowledge throughout his career. Details about specific family members are not publicly available.

Personal Life

Patrick W. Emerling maintains a presence on social media through his X (formerly Twitter) account and a Facebook page, where he connects with fans and shares updates on his racing career. He is based in his native Western New York region. Additional details about his personal life, including marital status and family beyond what is publicly available, are not documented in verified sources.

Patrick W. Emerling 2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season finds Patrick W. Emerling running a broad and demanding schedule across multiple NASCAR series. He returns full-time to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with USNEPower Motorsports, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet in a complete season campaign. He also returns for a second part-time season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with SS-Green Light Racing, again driving the No. 07 Chevrolet SS. His Xfinity Series involvement in 2025 builds on the nineteen-race part-time schedule he ran in 2024 with the same team, reflecting a growing relationship with SS-Green Light Racing.

Emerling expanded his 2025 portfolio to include the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, competing in two races: driving the No. 75 truck for Henderson Motorsports at North Wilkesboro Speedway and the No. 07 truck for Spire Motorsports at Pocono Raceway. He also continues to run part-time on the ROC Modified Tour and in open modified events alongside his full-time Whelen Modified Tour commitment. The 2025 season represents the most expansive cross-series effort of his career, balancing team ownership responsibilities in the Whelen Modified Tour with competitive drives in NASCAR’s national series.