The native of nearby Leeds will lead the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field to green
TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 15, 2025) – Talladega Superspeedway announced today that reigning Miss Alabama Emma Terry will serve as the honorary pace car driver for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race.
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.
Earlier this week, YellaWood also announced Ann Blair Gribbin as the winner of its Five-Star Hero Contest, which is designed to honor unsung heroes. Gribbin was selected as the winning Five-Star Hero for her extraordinary courage and dedication to improving the lives of others following a traumatic incident involving her daughter, Lulu. While visiting the Gulf Coast during 2024, Lulu survived a shark attack, but tragically lost her arm and leg.
Ann Blair will serve as the honorary starter, waving the green flag for Sunday’s race. Additionally, Lulu will serve as an “Honorary Hero” and will help give the command to fire the engines.
The NASCAR Playoffs race action at Talladega Superspeedway kicks off Friday, October 17, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225 during the Round of 8 followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 250 on Saturday, October 18 in the Round of 8.
The excitement continues into Sunday, Oct. 19, with the return of the YellaWood 500 during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 at Talladega Superspeedway. Drivers prepare to tackle the iconic 33-degree banking.
For ticketing information and more details about upcoming events, including the upcoming NASCAR Playoffs YellaWood 500 race weekend, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.
Fans are also encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at Talladega Superspeedway by following along on X, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as in the NASCAR Tracks App for the latest speedway news.
About Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is the most competitive racetrack on the NASCAR schedule (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), the highest-banked (33 degrees) and the longest (2.66 miles), as well as the most fun and fan-friendly. Three-and four-wide racing at 200 mph are a norm at Talladega Superspeedway, along with nail-biting, photo finishes. For information, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
