Join us in welcoming Emilee Ballard as an Official Car Chix Member! Emilee Ballard competed and finished in the top 12 of the 2020 Women of Motorsports Contest to earn her spot as Ms. September in the John Lawson’s Auto Rebuilders sponsored month of the 2021 Car Chix Calendar.
EMILEE BALLARD BIO
NICKNAME: Em
PHOTO CREDITS FOR SUBMITTED PHOTOS: Mike Pryka Photography
PROFESSION: Insurance Agent
YOUR VEHICLES (in photo): 1968 Chevy Camaro
MOTOR/SPECS: 388 Ls Motor fed by a V7 YSIB supercharger
RACING CLASS/TEAM/DIVISION: Heads up events, 8.50 index, and Drag week
HOMETOWN: Burbank IL
HOMETRACK: Route 66……….. Cordova or Union Grove
PERSONAL WEBSITE/FANPAGE: Emilee Ballard Racing
CLUBS/AFFLIATIONS/SPONSORS: Modern Carriage Werks Inc, PPG, Vortech Superchargers, JE Pistons, Boostline Rods, Redhorse Performance Inc, Greg Risk Racecraft, Hyperaktive Performance Solutions, Fast Forward Race Cars, Inc., J5 Machine & Fabrication, Glasstek, Drzayich Inc, Sportsman Race Cars, Inc, Frankenstein Engine Dynamics LLC, ProTorque, Car Chix
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACHIEVEMENTS: Competed and Completed 2 drag weeks (2018 & 2019), helped build my first engine with no issues, and recently redid my entire car and helped throughout the whole 9 months. The car won SEMA Young Guns 2020
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: COVID!!!!!!! Finished the car in 9 months just in time to compete for SEMA. Ended up winning the overall SEMA Young Guns category
FAVORITE QUOTE/SAYING: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; It is the courage to continue that counts. “
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: I have been around race cars since I was little. My dad has always bracket raced and surprised me with my first car, which is my Camaro, when I was 17. I bracket raced for a few years and met Cody (my Boyfriend) and got hooked on LS engines, heads up and Drag Week
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: 20 plus years
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT AUTOMOBILES/MOTORSPORTS: I love that there is always something new to learn to/ to do, and the road is as long as you allow it to be. More importantly, I love that my racing family has become family, and companies have become friends.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY: My best racing memory so far is competing and completing Drag Week 2018. We fought issues since the first day, but I was not going to let it come between me and the rest of the week. I ran my last pass, on Friday, and I was never more excited.
WHAT IS YOUR WORST CAR/RACING/MOTORSPORTS RELATED MEMORY: This year, watching my boyfriend (Cody) hit the wall, and not knowing if he was okay until I got down the track.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR NEXT SEASON: Have a full season! Compete in the Central Illinois Street shootout at Cordova, get lots of seat time, Compete at Drag Week, and SEMA 2021
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR REACHING YOUR GOALS: Other people holding you up, and also tracks not being open every weekend for testing
ANY BIG MODS OR BUILDS GOING ON DURING THE OFF SEASON: NOOO!! Thank goodness, this is the First time I can tuck my car away, in one piece, and have it ready to go for next year.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES OR PASSIONS: Spending time with family, being outside, going for walks with our dog.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP SONGS FOR WHEN YOU ARE DOING CARS THINGS / RACING: Seether Radio.
IF YOU GOT A MILLION DOLLARS TOMORROW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? I would build a pull barn/house and pay off mine and my family’s home.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOGS, WEBSITES OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THAT YOU FOLLOW? All my sponsor pages, motor trend, drag illustrated
ADVICE TO OTHER WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS OR WOMEN INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN MOTORSPORTS: Do not let the men intimidate you and or over power. I have met some of the nicest people drag racing. You control your success and future, reach out and be outgoing even if your nervous. The only chances you do not get, are the ones you did not take.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE CAR CHIX COMMUNITY: This is a great program, not only for you personally but the other girls around you. There is nothing more rewarding than supporting other people that share the same passion.
