Miss Alabama Emma Terry Named Honorary Pace Car Driver

For Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

 

Talladega Superspeedway announced that reigning Miss Alabama Emma Terry will serve as the honorary pace car driver for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race.

 

Congratulations to Miss Alabama 2025, Emma Terry, on finishing as 4th runner-up in last night's Miss America competition. She was just at our Commission meeting last month! What a great representative for our community! pic.twitter.com/hvouj770nu

— Jefferson County, AL (@JeffCoToday) September 8, 2025

Terry, a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was crowned Miss Alabama earlier this year and went on to finish as the fourth runner-up to Miss America last month. She was also selected as the second runner-up for the Quality of Life Award presented by Miss America, which recognizes delegates whose community service initiatives exemplify impact, innovation, and lasting commitment.

 

“We’re so proud to have Emma representing the state as Miss Alabama and share in her passion for serving others,” said Brian Crichton, Talladega Superspeedway President. “Emma has a genuine love of NASCAR, and with her drive to make lives better for those in the community, she’s the perfect person to lead the field to green for Sunday’s big race!”

 

During her tenure as Miss Alabama, Terry’s community service initiative is Stomping Out ALS One Step at a Time. Her service focus is dedicated to her grandfather, Stewart Simpson, who battled ALS. He also inspired her passion for NASCAR, making her role as honorary pace car driver that much more poignant to her and her family.

 

“As Miss Alabama, I’m thrilled to join thousands of fans in celebrating the history and energy of Talladega Superspeedway,” said Terry. “Experiencing Talladega in person for the first time-the largest oval track in NASCAR, known for its speed, excitement, and incredible fan traditions-is truly unforgettable. For me, this is more than just a race; it’s an opportunity to honor my grandfather’s memory and celebrate a sport that we enjoyed watching on television before ALS took him from us.”

 

In addition to her philanthropic endeavors, Terry is an accomplished dancer, having trained extensively with Exclusively Ballet, Birmingham Dance Theatre, and the Alabama Ballet. She was recognized with a Preliminary Talent Award and Scholarship at the 2025 Miss Alabama Competition.

 

 

source: Talladega Superspeedway Media