Join us in welcoming Emilee Ballard as an Official member of Car Chix. Emilee Ballard was selected as Car Chix Pick during the 2018 Women of Motorsports Contest (Read: Car Chix Celebrates Another Successful Women of Motorsports Contest), earning her spot as the Bonus Month in the Crank It Media sponsored month of the 2019 Car Chix Calendar.
EMILEE BALLARD BIO
NICKNAME: Em
PROFESSION: Business Administration
YOUR VEHICLES (in photo): 68 Chevy Camaro
MOTOR/SPECS: LS Procharged
RACING CLASS/TEAM/DIVISION: Et Bracket Racing Pro class, and Drag Week street class
HOMETOWN: Burbank
HOMETRACK: Route 66 Raceway
PERSONAL WEBSITE/FANPAGE: facebook.com/emileeballardracing https://vimeo.com/289776209
CLUBS/AFFLIATIONS/SPONSORS: Car Chix, Holley EFI
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACHIEVEMENTS: My boyfriend, father, and I rebuilt my car into a street car so I could race in Drag Week this year with my boyfriend instead of being a spectator. We were able to complete my car and I successfully completed my first attempt at drag week. Drag Week 2018 was a success and the car made it to the end!
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: My car went 9.80 in the first pass! We attempted and completed Drag Week 2018!
FAVORITE QUOTE/SAYING: “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough”.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: My father has owned cars since he was his twenties. When I was little, my parents were going to buy me a Junior Dragster, once I sat in there I did not want to do it anymore, my dad was not happy! Later on he took me to all the drag races with him and I would help him every time. Later on, in 2014, we purchased my Camaro.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: I have been around racing since I was a little girl, 5 or 6!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: I love my Racing Family! I have met so many awesome people throughout the years, and it’s such a blessing. I love when all of our friends are at the starting line watching you make your pass. Two races now, me and my dad have been able to race one another in a bracket race, -0.02 red against your dad, Can’t get much closer than that! What I love most is at my home track, this is how I met my boyfriend and we both race together and support one another unconditionally!
WHAT IS YOUR BEST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY: At route 66, we always split up in the staging lanes to avoid racing one another. Me and my dad got paired up and got to race one another. I will never forget it!
WHAT IS YOUR WORST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY: When I had no brakes at the finish line and just had to coast to the turn off, very scary!
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR NEXT SEASON: Stay consistently in the 9.00s, and to complete Drag Week 2019!
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR REACHING YOUR GOALS: Like any other racer, brand new parts that break. It’s very frustrating but being a racer, you have to know this is bound to happen. Looking back I would not change any of it for the world!
ANY BIG MODS OR BUILDS GOING ON DURING THE OFF SEASON: With my LS procharged motor only being a season old, we will look it over and make sure all is well, and get my car certified to go faster.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: I love hanging out with my family, watching my FIRST nephew grow up, and being outside.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP SONGS FOR WHEN YOU ARE DOING CARS THINGS / RACING: Seether radio station on Pandora
IF YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS TOMORROW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? Build another car, help rebuild my dad, boyfriend, and brother in laws car and buy a stacker! Pay off all my bills and help my family with theirs.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOGS, WEBSITES OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THAT YOU FOLLOW? Hyperaktive Performance solutions, Car Chix, Drag Racing Videos
ADVICE TO OTHER WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS OR WOMEN INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN MOTORSPORTS: Do not let the majority of men involved overwhelm you! I have never once been to a race, where they all have not been super helpful. You are going to get dirty, and it’s okay! Racing is something I cannot explain to everyone any better than, the experience behind the driver’s seat is the best feeling ever.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE CAR CHIX COMMUNITY: Keep pushing yourself, get out there and meet new people. Don’t ever give up!
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PHOTO CREDITS FOR SUBMITTED PHOTOS: 1320 VIDEO
