Emery Hopes to Soar into Summer Shootout Winner’s Circle

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While many 17-year-olds are still learning how to drive, Matt Emery has had more then seven years of racing experience he hopes to put to use in the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout. The soon-to-be high school senior is hoping to improve his skills at Charlotte Motor Speedway and fight his way into contention for this summer’s Bandolero Outlaw division championship.

Emery began racing when he was 10 years old at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He won rookie of the year honors after his first season in Las Vegas’ Bandolero Bandit class. In his second season, he won nine feature events and finished third in the points championship at the Las Vegas Bullring. In 2012, Emery and his family moved from Las Vegas to South Carolina and he took a year off from racing. It wasn’t long before he was back in a Bandolero car and claiming the 2013 Southern National Motorsports Park track Bandolero championship. Emery soon began racing at the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout and faced some of the most competitive drivers in the nation.

Although winning an Outlaw division championship at the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout can be challenging, Emery knows that in order to be the best, he has to beat the best.

“I think the coolest thing is that everybody here is basically the best in the nation,” said Emery, who drives the No. 11 United States Air Force Bandolero. “So if you can race here, then you can race anywhere. I feel like it is a mecca for racing.”

The U.S. Air Force jumped on board as a sponsor last year after Emery’s father reached out to them. Emery’s father spent 20 plus years in the military as a Master Sergeant and knew whom to contact to talk about sponsorships for his son. During the 2016 Bojangles’ Summer Shootout, Emery won twice and finished third in the championship with the Air Force on his hood. While the beginning part of the 2017 season has brought rain and misfortune, Emery still looks to better his position in the points standings. He plans to use patience and experience to come out on top when the season ends Aug. 1.

“I’ve learned how to take my time and that’s probably the biggest thing,” Emery said. “My dad’s been saying it for seven years: ‘You can’t win a race in the first turn.’”

The Bojangles’ Summer Shootout continues on Tuesday with more Legend Car and Bandolero action. Austin Green attempts to defend his position as the points leader from two-time Lead 2 Real Estate Pro division champion Jordan Black who has won the past two races.

Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing beginning at approximately 7 p.m.

TICKETS:
Single-day admission to the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout costs just $8 for adults and is FREE for children under 13. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267)

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