Patrick Emerling will slide behind the wheel of the No. 38 RSS Racing Chevrolet for the opening event of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season at Daytona International Speedway. According to a social media post, which contained the rendering of Emerling’s paint scheme for the event, he will carry long-time partner Firman Power Equipment as his primary sponsorship partner in the event.
Taking on @DAYTONA with @RSSRacing__ this weekend. ?
Thankful for the opportunity to be back in the @NASCAROReillyAP. pic.twitter.com/KoMTn5aLlo
— Patrick Emerling (@PatrickEmerling) February 9, 2026
Emerling, 33, finished 10th in the season-opener at Daytona a season ago, driving the No. 07 Chevrolet for SS-GreenLight Racing, which capped off an impressive Speedweeks for the driver, who also claimed the Tour-Type Modified championship at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, an annual week-long competition at New Smyrna Speedway.
The driver is currently in the midst of defending his Tour-Type Modified championship in New Smyrna, as he finished fourth on Saturday night, placed behind race-winner Justin Bonsignore, Tyler Rypkema, and Austin Beers.
Emerling’s performance at New Smyrna Speedway in the modifieds last season captured the attention of Spire Motorsports, which led to the driver running two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events, at Pocono Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with Spire Motorsports during the 2025 season.
The tenacious racer started 10th and finished 15th in his first start for Spire at Pocono, and then was running near the top-10 at New Hampshire, when a cut tire sent him into the outside wall and led to a 28th-place finish.
Emerling also competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at North Wilkesboro Speedway last year, driving the No. 75 Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet. In that event, Emerling climbed from the 32nd starting position and finished the afternoon in the 19th spot.
Heading into the 2026 season, Emerling, a native of Orchard Park, NY, has amassed 60 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series ranks, including nine starts a season ago.
Outside of the NASCAR National Series ranks, Emerling is a nine-time race winner in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and he finished runner-up in the series championship standings in 2021, a season in which he scored three wins.
The 2026 United Rentals 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona International Speedway is set for Saturday, February 14, and will be televised on The CW. TV coverage of the event will kick-off at 5:00 PM ET.
