Patrick W. Emerling Bio
Patrick W. Emerling, born on September 19, 1992, is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. A versatile competitor across multiple NASCAR national and regional series, he is best known for his full-time efforts in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he pilots the No. 1 Chevrolet for his own USNEPower Motorsports organization. In addition to his Modified Tour duties, Emerling has built a reputation as a dependable part-time competitor in NASCAR’s national touring divisions, logging starts in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while also fielding entries in the ARCA Menards Series.
Over more than a decade of competition, Emerling has balanced the demands of driving with the responsibilities of team ownership, demonstrating an entrepreneurial approach to a sport often dominated by larger operations. His career has been marked by steady progression through the ranks of stock car racing, from short tracks in the Northeast to superspeedways and road courses across the country.
Early Life and Background
Patrick W. Emerling was born and raised in Orchard Park, New York, a suburb of Buffalo known for producing dedicated racers who cut their teeth on the region’s short tracks. Growing up in western New York placed him in the heart of one of the most active grassroots racing scenes in the country, where weekly Modified and late model competition is a way of life. The Buffalo area’s deep ties to automobile culture shaped much of his early worldview and provided a natural entry point into motorsports.
His family has been involved with car dealerships in the Buffalo area for many years, a connection that helped foster his interest in automobiles and racing. Surrounded by cars both at home and on the track, Emerling developed a passion for motorsports at a young age. He began building his craft on local short tracks before eventually moving into nationally sanctioned competition, laying the groundwork for what would become a long and varied professional career.
Path to NASCAR
Emerling’s professional journey began in 2011 when he joined the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, one of the oldest and most respected short-track touring series in the country. Driving the No. 07 Chevrolet and Ford for his own team, he completed his rookie season with a thirteenth-place finish in the final points standings, signaling early promise against a roster of seasoned veterans. He committed to running the full Modified Tour schedule through 2015, when a fifth-place championship result confirmed his growing stature within the series.
From 2016 onward, Emerling shifted toward a part-time Modified Tour schedule while pursuing opportunities in NASCAR’s national touring divisions. His Truck Series debut came in 2017 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the No. 83 Chevrolet Silverado for Copp Motorsports, an experience that introduced him to the higher speeds and longer races of national-level competition. These combined Modified and national series efforts positioned him for a breakthrough Xfinity Series opportunity just a few years later.
Patrick W. Emerling Career
Early Career (2011–2016)
Emerling’s earliest professional seasons were defined by his commitment to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. After a thirteenth-place points finish in his 2011 rookie campaign, he continued to develop as a driver and as a team operator, eventually reaching the top five in the overall standings in 2015. His Modified Tour experience taught him the race craft and strategic thinking required to manage tire wear, fuel windows, and tight packs of cars on short ovals.
As his Modified Tour schedule eased in 2016, Emerling began seeking opportunities in larger NASCAR series. He continued to refine his skills while running select Modified events and laying the groundwork for his transition to national-level stock car racing, setting the stage for his Truck and Xfinity Series debuts in the years that followed.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2017)
Emerling made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2017 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the No. 83 Chevrolet Silverado for Copp Motorsports. The Loudon race ended early due to engine problems, leaving him with a 23rd-place finish despite starting 20th. He returned to the Truck Series at Texas later that season, where a late-race crash relegated him to a 26th-place result.
Although the 2017 Truck Series campaign did not yield the finishes he had hoped for, the experience provided valuable seat time on intermediate tracks. Combined with his first Whelen Modified Tour win at Bristol that same year, where he also captured the pole, the season marked a turning point in Emerling’s career. He returned to the Truck Series in 2025 with additional starts for Henderson Motorsports and Spire Motorsports, further expanding his national series résumé.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2020–Present)
Emerling’s Xfinity Series debut came on May 20, 2020, when it was announced he would drive the No. 02 for Our Motorsports at the spring Bristol Motor Speedway race. The event marked his entry into one of NASCAR’s premier national touring series. In 2021, he returned to Our Motorsports for another part-time schedule, transitioning to the team’s new No. 03 entry before moving to the jointly fielded No. 23 car when owner points became an issue early in the season.
The 2022 season brought a new chapter when Emerling partnered with fellow driver Joey Gase to form Emerling-Gase Motorsports, fielding the No. 35 car part-time for both drivers. In 2024, after he and Gase parted ways, Emerling ran nineteen races as the primary driver of the No. 07 for SS-Green Light Racing, combining those efforts with a full-time return to the Whelen Modified Tour. He continued with SS-Green Light in 2025, logging another part-time Xfinity Series slate while maintaining his Modified Tour program.
USNEPower Motorsports Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, Emerling partnered with Rich Gatreau to launch a new Whelen Modified Tour operation under the USNEPower Motorsports banner, allowing him to combine his driving duties with full ownership responsibilities. The team fields the No. 1 Chevrolet for Emerling on a full-time Modified Tour schedule, and he has supplemented that program with part-time starts on the ROC Modified Tour and in selected open Modified events.
Under the USNEPower banner, Emerling has continued to balance his national series opportunities with his primary Modified Tour commitments. In February 2026, it was announced that he would return to the renamed NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 38 Chevrolet Camaro SS for RSS Racing in the season-opener at Daytona, signaling continued expansion of his national series presence while preserving his Modified Tour foundation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Emerling’s racing strengths are rooted in his deep Modified Tour background, where tire conservation, mechanical sympathy, and short-run pace are paramount. His experience on tight short tracks translates well to Bristol and Loudon-style venues, while his growing comfort on larger ovals has allowed him to compete credibly in national series equipment. Working alongside crew chiefs experienced in both Modified and national series setups has helped him adapt his versatile skill set across formats.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Emerling’s career highlights, his first Whelen Modified Tour win at Bristol in 2017, where he also started from the pole, stands out as a defining moment. Three additional Whelen Modified Tour victories came in 2021, when he finished second in the series championship. His Xfinity Series debut at Bristol in 2020 and his multi-team Truck Series appearances in 2017 and 2025 further underscore a career built on perseverance and adaptability.
Patrick W. Emerling Career Wins
Patrick W. Emerling’s career victory totals are anchored by his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour successes, with at least four series wins confirmed across his Modified career. His first Modified Tour victory came at Bristol in 2017, and he added three more wins during a strong 2021 campaign that culminated in a runner-up finish in the overall Modified Tour championship.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Highlights
Emerling has recorded at least four wins in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, including his breakthrough victory at Bristol in 2017. He added three wins during the 2021 season, when he also finished second in the championship standings. In 2018, he was narrowly beaten by Chase Dowling at New Hampshire, finishing second in that race while posting three top-five and five top-ten finishes overall.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Modified Tour victories, Emerling has logged regional Modified starts and select open Modified Tour events, demonstrating his continued commitment to short-track racing. He has not recorded wins in NASCAR’s national touring divisions, with his Truck Series and Xfinity Series efforts producing top finishes but no victories to date.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour | 4 | Multiple | 1+ |
Patrick W. Emerling Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Emerling’s family has been involved with car dealerships in the Buffalo area for many years, giving him an early and lasting connection to the automobile industry. This family business background helped foster his interest in cars and racing from a young age, providing a foundation that eventually led him into competitive motorsports.
Personal Life
Patrick W. Emerling continues to be based in the western New York region, where his family business connections remain strong. Beyond his dealership ties and his commitment to racing, limited public details are available regarding his personal life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has seen Patrick W. Emerling maintain his full-time presence in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with USNEPower Motorsports while juggling part-time commitments across NASCAR’s national touring divisions. He returned for a second consecutive part-time season at SS-Green Light Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 07 Chevrolet SS. In addition, he expanded his national series exposure with selected NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts.
His 2025 Truck Series appearances included the No. 75 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Henderson Motorsports at North Wilkesboro and the No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports at Pocono, broadening his competitive footprint on intermediate tracks. On the Whelen Modified Tour, Emerling continued to pilot the No. 1 car full time, supplemented by part-time starts on the ROC Modified Tour and selected open Modified events. Although he has not recorded a national series win in 2025, his consistent presence across multiple series has reinforced his reputation as a versatile owner-driver.
