Reigning Miss Alabama Emma Terry will lead the field to green at the YellaWood 500 this Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, serving as the honorary pace car driver for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race.
Terry, a Leeds native and graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was crowned Miss Alabama earlier this year. She finished as fourth runner-up to Miss America and was also named second runner-up for the Quality of Life Award, which recognizes impactful community service initiatives.
“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!”
Terry’s community service platform, “Stomping Out ALS One Step at a Time,” is dedicated to her grandfather, Stewart Simpson, who battled ALS and inspired her love of NASCAR.
“As Miss Alabama, I’m thrilled to join thousands of fans in celebrating the history and energy of Talladega Superspeedway,” Terry said. “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 service work, Terry is a trained dancer with experience at Exclusively Ballet, Birmingham Dance Theatre, and Alabama Ballet. She earned a Preliminary Talent Award and Scholarship at the 2025 Miss Alabama Competition.
Sunday’s race will also feature Ann Blair Gribbin as the honorary starter after being named the winner of the YellaWood Five-Star Hero Contest. Gribbin was honored for her courage and advocacy following a 2024 shark attack involving her daughter, Lulu, who will help give the command to fire the engines as an “Honorary Hero.”
The NASCAR Playoffs weekend at Talladega kicks off Friday, October 17, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 250 on Saturday, and the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, October 19.
For more information on race weekend, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.
