Patrick Emerling Bio
Patrick W. Emerling, born on September 19, 1992, is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner from Orchard Park, New York. He is best known for his full-time commitment to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he pilots the No. 1 Chevrolet for USNEPower Motorsports. In addition to his Modified program, Emerling competes part-time in NASCAR’s national touring divisions, including the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Across multiple seasons, he has built a reputation as a versatile short-track racer capable of running competitive equipment in a variety of stock car formats.
Early Life and Background
Patrick W. Emerling was born on September 19, 1992, and grew up in Orchard Park, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. The Western New York region has long produced talented short-track racers, and Emerling was introduced to stock car competition at a young age through the local racing scene. His family has had ties to car dealerships in the Buffalo area, providing him with early exposure to automotive culture and mechanical work.
Racing in the Northeast, Emerling gravitated toward modified-style stock cars, a category that rewards adaptability, mechanical sympathy, and bumper-to-bumper aggression. He honed his skills on short ovals and progressively advanced into NASCAR-sanctioned competition. By his late teens, he had committed to a professional path in motorsports, balancing on-track development with the responsibilities of running his own programs.
Path to NASCAR
Emerling’s path to NASCAR began in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he made his first start in 2011. Driving the No. 07 Chevrolet/Ford for his own team, he completed his rookie season with a thirteenth-place finish in the final standings. He maintained a full schedule through 2015, peaking that year with a fifth-place result in the Modified Tour championship.
As his Modified career progressed, Emerling sought opportunities in NASCAR’s national touring divisions. In 2017, he made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, driving the No. 83 Chevrolet Silverado for Copp Motorsports. Although the debut ended with an engine issue, the appearance established him as a driver ready to take on the national stage alongside his ongoing Modified commitments.
Patrick Emerling Career
Early Career (2011–2015)
Emerling’s earliest NASCAR-affiliated seasons were spent building his program in the Whelen Modified Tour. From 2011 through 2015, he ran full Modified schedules, gradually improving his results and learning the demands of touring-series competition. By 2015, he had elevated himself to a fifth-place finish in the final points standings, signaling his arrival as a consistent contender on the Modified circuit.
During these developmental years, Emerling balanced the role of driver and team operator, an experience that shaped his long-term approach to racing. Running his own equipment gave him direct insight into chassis setup, race strategy, and crew coordination, skills that would later help him adapt to NASCAR’s national series.
Modified Tour Breakthrough (2017–2019)
In 2017, Emerling captured his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, a marquee win that also included a pole position. He added two top-five finishes and three top-ten finishes that season, confirming his status as a regular threat for wins. The following year, he finished second at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a close battle with Chase Dowling and posted three top-fives and five top-tens overall.
After scaling back his Modified schedule in 2019, Emerling kept his foot in the national divisions. His breakthrough years on the Modified Tour gave him the visibility and confidence to pursue part-time opportunities in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, setting the stage for his expansion into NASCAR’s broader ladder.
NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series (2020–2024)
On May 20, 2020, it was announced that Emerling would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut, driving the No. 02 for Our Motorsports at the spring Bristol race. In 2021, he returned to the team in a part-time role, initially in the No. 03 entry. When the No. 03 failed to qualify for early-season events, Our Motorsports acquired a joint car from RSS Racing and Reaume Brothers Racing, and Emerling shifted to that entry. That same year, he finished second in the Modified Tour championship with three victories.
In 2022, Emerling partnered with fellow driver Joey Gase to form Emerling-Gase Motorsports, fielding the No. 35 car part-time in the Xfinity Series. He also drove a Ford collaboration entry for B. J. McLeod Motorsports at Daytona, after stepping in for a driver whose sponsor had not yet received NASCAR approval. By 2024, following a split from Gase, Emerling became the primary driver of the No. 07 for SS-Green Light Racing, logging nineteen Xfinity races while returning to full-time Modified competition with a new team partnership.
USNEPower Motorsports Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, Emerling returned to full-time Modified Tour racing by partnering with Rich Gatreau to form a new team, with USNEPower Motorsports later becoming the operation behind his No. 1 Chevrolet. The partnership has allowed him to focus on chasing the Modified Tour championship while continuing selective national-series starts.
In 2025, Emerling continued his role as a part-time Xfinity Series driver with SS-Green Light Racing in the No. 07. He also expanded his national-series presence by running the No. 75 truck for Henderson Motorsports at North Wilkesboro and the No. 07 truck for Spire Motorsports at Pocono in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. These opportunities reflect his standing as a respected short-track talent trusted by multiple NASCAR team owners.
Driving Style and Strengths
Emerling is widely regarded as a strong short-track and intermediate oval racer, with a particular comfort level in modified-style equipment. His years of running his own teams have sharpened his race-craft instincts, including tire management, fuel strategy, and adapting setups to changing track conditions. Working closely with his Modified Tour crew, he has developed a methodical, consistent approach that complements his aggressive wheel-to-wheel racing style.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Emerling’s signature achievements is his first Whelen Modified Tour win at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017, which also came from the pole. A close runner-up finish to Chase Dowling at New Hampshire in 2018 and a second-place Modified Tour championship run in 2021, highlighted by three victories, further cemented his reputation on the Modified circuit. His 2020 Xfinity Series debut at Bristol marked another career milestone as he transitioned to NASCAR’s national level.
Patrick Emerling Career Wins
Patrick Emerling’s verified career wins center on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he has recorded multiple feature victories, including his breakthrough win at Bristol in 2017 and three additional wins during his 2021 runner-up championship season. Across the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series, he is verified to have zero wins to date.
Whelen Modified Tour Highlights
Emerling has been a regular winner in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, with his first victory coming at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017. He added three more wins in 2021 on his way to a second-place finish in the final standings, demonstrating his consistency at the front of the field across the full schedule.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of the Modified Tour, Emerling’s national-series results have been developmental in nature, with limited starts in the Xfinity Series, Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. His priority remains the Modified Tour, where his winning pedigree continues to grow season by season.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour | 4 | Multiple | 1+ |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Patrick Emerling Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Emerling’s family has long-standing ties to the automotive industry in the Buffalo, New York area, with connections to local car dealerships that have spanned years. These roots provided him with an early understanding of vehicles and business, supporting his eventual move into team ownership in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Personal Life
Patrick W. Emerling continues to be based in the Western New York region, where he balances his driving duties with his responsibilities as a team owner. Public details about his marital status and family life are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Patrick Emerling’s 2025 season has been defined by a busy, multi-series schedule. He returned to the NASCAR Xfinity Series for a second consecutive part-time campaign with SS-Green Light Racing, driving the No. 07 Chevrolet. At the same time, he expanded his national-series footprint with selected NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts, including the No. 75 for Henderson Motorsports at North Wilkesboro and the No. 07 for Spire Motorsports at Pocono.
On the Modified Tour, Emerling continued his full-time role in the No. 1 Chevrolet for USNEPower Motorsports, chasing another deep run in the championship standings. He also made occasional appearances on the ROC Modified Tour and in open modified events, reflecting his commitment to the Northeast short-track scene. His ability to balance Modified Tour competition with part-time national-series starts has been a hallmark of his 2025 campaign.
Looking ahead, Emerling’s 2025 results position him as a respected veteran of the Modified Tour while he continues to seek stronger finishes in the Xfinity Series. His combination of team ownership, regional Modified success, and selective national outings underscores a long-term plan focused on consistent winning at every level he competes.
