Meet Emily Chisholm: Dedicated, Passionate, Fast

Recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with Legends Car driver Emily Chisholm. She shared some insight into how she ended up in the world of motorsports and the strong family ties that helped her get there. Her passion for motorsports is unmatched and I am sure that she has a bright future ahead of her. I promise, Emily Chisholm is one to watch.

Taylor: Tell me about your racing career so far. How did you get to the Legends series, and how often do you compete?

Emily: “I grew up around the racetrack- it’s all I’ve ever known. My grandfather and dad both raced. With my family’s track only 20 minutes from my house, you can see how easy it was to be involved with the sport. When I was 12, my dad bought me a bandolero, which I raced until 2022. I had multiple podium finishes, travelling throughout the province of Nova Scotia, but the main track we went to was Scotia Speedworld in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They have a “weekly racing series,” which sees multiple divisions every Friday night from May until September. In 2019, I had 6 wins and ended up winning the championship. I would say that would be one of my biggest accomplishments, as it was only my second year of racing. In 2023, I moved into legend cars. I had about 5 starts that season. In 2024, I did a little bit of racing at Scotia Speedworld until the end of July, getting a couple of heat race wins and a top ten finish in a 25-car field.”

“I moved to North Carolina in August for college, and was out of the seat until January, when I started racing for Miller Performance Motorsports (MPM). I raced at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the road course for winter heat, then I raced at Auburndale Speedway in Florida for winter nationals. I did a couple more races before I went home to Canada for summer break in May. When I got home this year, we bought a brand new car and are now working with a new team. It’s been going really well. I’ve finished within the top 10 almost every week.”

Taylor: Do you have a favorite track?

Emily: My favorite track is Riverside International Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Taylor: Who is your role model in motorsports? Who inspires you?

Emily: “My role model would definitely be my dad. He is the reason I am able to even compete in the first place. He has always made me feel as though I can do it. My dad inspires me. Growing up, I always looked up to him at the racetrack, always trying to learn as much as I could to better myself.”

Taylor: What is your favorite inspirational quote?

Emily: “My favorite inspirational quote is “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt”

Taylor: Tell me about your family history. How did your family initially start racing?

Emily: “My grandfather, who is my dad’s father, liked racing and did it just as a hobby. In 1969, he built Riverside International Speedway. He sold it for a few years, as he had a young family and was trying to run his construction business. After a few years, he bought the racetrack back and did a full rebuild of it. He called Big Bill France and asked permission to build Riverside after Bristol, so many people from home refer to it as a “Mini Bristol.” It has become a huge success. Our most popular event is called the “IWK 250.” It’s a race where we raise money for children in the IWK hospital, which is located in Halifax, NS. Every year, we have a celebrity driver. We’ve had guys like Mark Martin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Kenny Wallace, Regan Smith, and many more. This year, we have Bubba Pollard coming. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from fans since he is a big short-track racer. Out of every driver to come since the 250 was established in 2007, Regan Smith was the only driver to ever win. We’re excited to see how Bubba does!”

Taylor: Being that you come from a racing family, what are some of your family members accomplishments?

Emily: “My family is from Nova Scotia, Canada which is in the eastern part of the country. Riverside is known as the “fastest third mile in the east.” My dad drives a late model, and both of my siblings drive bandoleros. My sister, Shelby won multiple times last year, as well as capturing her first championship in only her second year of racing. I’m excited to see what the future holds for all of us.”

Taylor: What are your goals moving forward? Where do you want to end up?

Emily: “Moving forward, I am focusing on my degree for the next few years. Racing will come second until I graduate, which makes it hard to compete with the guys and girls who do it consistently. I will probably just be racing when I come home for summer break, and maybe a few times when I’m at school.”

Taylor: If you weren’t working in motorsports, what would you be doing?

Emily: “I haven’t put much thought into what I’d be doing if I weren’t working in motorsports, since this has always been my dream. I would probably just be going to college for a business degree.”

Taylor: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in racing?

Emily: “Some advice I would give to someone in racing is that it takes time. Everyone thinks you just get in and go fast and turn left, but there is so much more to racing than that. Another thing is to know the difference between being patient and being aggressive-there’s a fine line.”

Fun Facts to know about Emily:

Taylor: Favorite car?

Emily: “My favorite car would be a Ford GT.”

Taylor: Favorite book or movie?

Emily: “Lately, I’ve been more into TV shows. I would say my favorites are Landman & The Waterfront.”

Taylor: Favorite place to eat when traveling to any specific track?

Emily: “When I’m racing in the US, I tend to have Chipotle. When I race at home, I usually bring something healthy that has high protein with me to the racetrack. If not, I’ll do some sort of sandwich from Subway.”

Thank you to Emily for taking the time to do this interview. Keep an eye out for her in the future, I am confident she will do big things!