An incredible conclusion to the 2025 season fell upon the Emmons Motorsports Racing team at their home race in Dallas earlier this month. There at the week-long Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex, third-generation competitor Will Emmons won the weather-delayed Tulsa divisional in Stock Eliminator with a defeat of uncle Jerry Emmons in the final. A handful of days later, Jerry — who was also a runner-up in Stock at the Dallas division race that week — locked down a milestone 20th Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national event win at the main event, the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals. To sweeten the outcome, the youngest of the Emmons Motorsports drivers – Landon Emmons – reached the Stock final in the prestigious JEGS Allstars, and Landon and Will’s father, Speedy — formally known as Harvey Emmons III — was runner-up in Super Stock at the FallNationals.
Their success as a team was validated by strong placement in the NHRA South Central standings. Leaving the event, Speedy was in the top 10 in Division 4’s tough Super Stock category, and Jerry was leading Division 4 in Stock with brother Gary and Will just behind in second and third place. Landon, in just his second season of competition after building a strong foundation in the Jr. Drag Racing League, was No. 7 in the South Central Stock standings.
After Dallas, the group agreed to end their season on that note of strength and let the chips fall where they may, and they packed it in and headed home to spend time with family and enjoy the upcoming Halloween weekend, a time when they would normally be on the road racing out West.
“But I couldn’t sleep,” said Jerry, who began to stew over the standings. “After Dallas, I still had a long-shot chance, and I became restless worrying about whether or not I should go. I don’t like missing things with the kids, and if the odds were better for me, maybe I wouldn’t have struggled so much. But the ‘what if’ stuck with me. As a parent, you want to do the right thing by your family as well as chase the dreams you strive for. It’s hard to know the answer.”
As the days wore on, and in true Emmons Racing fashion, the discussion continued. They had entered the Las Vegas and Pomona national events as soon as they were able, and although it was decided after Dallas that they wouldn’t make the trek, they also didn’t withdraw their entries. Ten days ahead of the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, brothers Gary and Jerry were in an extensive conversation about whether or not they should, in fact, chase the longshot championship. The conversation ended when Jerry had to step out to take his daughter to volleyball practice, and shortly thereafter when Gary went to leave, he noticed a Mylar balloon swirling around the door through which he was trying to exit.
The wind continued to bobble it around the area, taking it a bit away and then right back, demanding attention. Entertained and intrigued, Gary took out his phone and began to video the partially deflated but still going strong gold balloon. He chased it down and pinned it to the ground, unfolding it fully to reveal that it was shaped like a trophy and had “Champion #1” across the front. Chuckling, he sent it to Jerry.
“This was exactly what I needed,” said Jerry, struck by the absurdity of the occurrence. “I don’t know if it’s a sign, but after days and days of little sleep and stressing, I had the answer I was looking for. Regardless of how it all plays out, I have peace. If it’s in the cards, we will have done what all the great champions have done on their run to greatness: make sacrifices and go against the odds. No matter what happens, we’re going to enjoy this, and my kids will be able to look back on this and know the value of chasing your dreams.”
Jerry enters the final two national events of the season in the No. 8 position in the Stock Eliminator standings. He can claim both of the upcoming events, while many of those ahead of him in the points are maxed out.
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