Looking to follow in her family's footsteps, Emily Arenas has solidified her love for racing in the seat of a Legend Car. As an ambassador for various women in motorsports companies, Arenas is hoping to continue to master the Legend Car with the hopes of taking the next step and begin testing bigger cars.
Hometown: Monroe, Georgia
Car Number: 3
Division: Semi-Pro
Race Team: Miller Performance Motorsports
Favorite Vacation Spot: Any NASCAR Race
1. What got you started in racing?
I went to my first NASCAR race when I was 10 because my grandfather manages my cousin Daniel Suárez and I got to see all the cars out there. They used to do the driver intros where their kids could get on the pickup trucks with the drivers and I [would] ride up there with Daniel and I heard the fans and I saw the open track and ever since then I was hooked. Also, my favorite movie growing up was Cars, obviously, so I’ve been hooked ever since I went to my first NASCAR race and I’ve grown up around NASCAR and so then, I started racing when I was 16. I got into Legends when I was 16 and I’ve been racing them since then.
2. What has your racing journey been like so far?
I raced go-karts two years before that when I lived in Tennessee with Tennessee Karting Association. In my first year in Legends, I learned a lot. I took that whole year learning about the car and how far I can push it and then my second year is when I really started driving as hard as I could in the Legend. Now in my third year, I’m taking this time to perfect my driving and get to the top times and then hopefully I’ll be able to touch on some bigger cars this season.
3. What was the translation like from go-karts to Legend Cars?
I really just raced them on the same track they only went 55 (miles per hour) so it was definitely a big jump. It didn’t take me too long to get adjusted to the Legend Car but I definitely loved being in the car with the higher horsepower, more speed, bigger tracks, I loved it.
4. What has been your most rewarding win so far?
In Thursday Thunder last year there was a race where I was just kind of feeling down and I had no intention of going out there and winning. I was feeling bad about how I qualified and I almost pulled off the track because I was just not feeling it. I actually ended up winning both features that night and I was crying at victory lane with my family. That was a really emotional one for me and it gave me a confidence boost and I’ve been able to do great since then.
5. What is your favorite racetrack to race at?
I love Caffeine and Octane Lanier Raceway because it’s bigger and it’s really fast and it’s all about momentum. Each turn is different so it really challenges the driver.
6. What is the reasoning behind your No. 3 on your car?
Number three has been a number that’s stood out in my life. I was born in March and the day is the 13th so it is three-one-three. I also loved Dale Earnhardt and I loved learning his story and how he was as a driver, his temper, he’s just awesome. [Dales's] grandson Wyatt is on my team and his mother was there with him one day, Dale Earnhardt’s daughter, and I told her my story about number three and how I was always inspired by Dale Earnhardt. She actually called Dale Jr. and they sort of gave me their blessing for number three. That was a really special moment for me.
7. What is it like balancing racing with friends, school, and others?
I’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices. I haven’t been able to go to prom. I’ve had to miss out on a lot of things with friends. I’ve had to give up really, having normal teenage years. I’ve had to miss a lot of school to go to races and different racing events for sponsors but I’m just thankful that my school is so willing to work with me and that they give me their full support.
8. What are your ambitions going into Belmont Abbey for school?
At Belmont Abbey, I’m going to take Motorsports Management and with that degree, they teach you how to go out and get sponsors and how contracts work, and just the business side of racing. So, I’m planning on using that to my advantage as a driver and to help me throughout my racing career and then once I’m too old to drive or if I get injured and I can’t race anymore, I plan on owning my own team.
9. If you had to choose a different avenue to focus on outside of motorsports, what would it be?
I’ve never had to think of that, I’ve never really had a Plan B. I don’t know if I have an answer for that honestly.
10. What does it mean to be a female in a male-dominated sport?
I love being a part of Women in Motorsports in North America and I’m an ambassador for them and for the Women Who Rock with Hard Rock and I just love being a part of their program. I love being a female in motorsports because I am like someone to look up to for young females and girls in any sport and I can show that we can do this.
11. What would you say to another girl looking to get started in racing?
I’d say if they have the passion for it, and they have the drive for it, then they can do it and show the boys who's boss.
12. What does it mean to have your car in the Women in Motorsports exhibit and all of the women in sports events you’ve been in?
It’s kind of eye-opening to me to see how many people are out there that support us females in motorsports and I’m thankful to be an ambassador.
13. Do you have a pre-race routine?
If I’m ever nervous or scared or anxious sometimes l put on my airpods and listen to Kenny G or Enya and before I get in the car I always give my dad and mom a hug then I get ready. My dad always puts my gloves on me and then before I go out there to sit on the grid my dad sits there and prays with me.
14. What does it mean to be a part of Miller Performance Motorsports (MPM)?
Being with Zach Miller and MPM and the whole MPM team, it’s just like being in a big family. We all support each other. We go out there and we work as a team and if one of us is not as fast as the other then we’ll watch out GoPro footage and we’ll work with each other and we’ll talk to each other about how our cars are feeling so it’s definitely different from other teams I’ve been on. It’s a lot better. Like some of the other teams, it just feels like yeah, you have the same coach but you don’t like each other, sometimes you hate each other but with MPM, I love how we work together and we all want to see each other go out there and win and be on top.
15. What are your goals for this season?
I think right now for this season I want to fully learn the car and maybe start testing some bigger cars and then next season possibly move up to a whole new series.
16. What are your long-term racing goals?
My ultimate goal is to be a NASCAR Cup Series Driver and I don’t want to just be a female in the Cup Series, I want to be a competitive driver and I ultimately want to win the championship.