Bowman Gray Q&A: Street Stock Driver Emilee Lewis – Tues April 29th 2025

Ladies and Gentleman, I had the opportunity to interview Emilee Lewis Street Stock driver, daughter of Street Stock driver Brad Lewis. Emilee has 11 top 10’s in 31 starts with 2 top five finishes including a win she picked up last season, making history as the only second father-daughter duo to win at Bowman Gray joining Brad & Taylor Robbins.

Q: What was it that got you interested in racing?

A: My family has done it for years way before I was even born. My grandfather race and my dad was running and my brother got a car and it was just being with them around the shop and at the track that made me want to get into and spend time with them. 

Q: Some drivers have a story behind the number they run, Is there a story behind the 4?

A: Yes, my grandfather Allen McKnight actually ran the 4 over here for years and got into the number four because back in that time he was in deep with the Myers and it was something he started and me, my brother, and now nephew have kinda carried the number through multiple different sports over the years. 

Q: Seeing the success that Amber Lynn, your sister in law Taylor Robbins, and Susan Kimel have had with their careers, how much does it motivate you to have your name mentioned in the same category as race winners?

A: I get this question a lot. I think what they have done for the sport is great but I honestly wasn’t raised to be a little girl or ever really wanted to be treated like one in sports. I came up playing ice hockey my whole life. It’s just important to me and cool to have my name in the win category with everyone that has won over there. 

Q: Most people recognize your car by the Sully on your what is the back story of it? 

A: Growing up I always loved Monsters INC. but a few years back we ran a race at carteret county on Halloween weekend and they had costume contest and trick or treating and everything for the kids so I thought it would be cool to add it for the weekend and now it’s stuck I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get rid of it. 

Q: Is there a certain driver or drivers (any division) that you lean on for advice? And what’s the best advice they’ve given you?

A. My dad is a big obvious one just because he is my dad and we spend a lot of time together doing this but other then him my brother Chase Lewis, Dylan Ward and Christen Joyce would probably have to be the core group I lean on for advice. Between all of them I think the best advice they all give me is just to go out there have fun and run my race. 

Q: With the Street Stock 50 coming up, what would it mean to you to win it?

A: It would be very cool to win that race. I think everyone kinda wants to win that race at least once but we all know that race is just a game of survival. 

Q: Of all of your competitors you race against, who did you enjoy racing against most?

A: I would definitely have to say Donnie Martin. He’s a fun guy to run with I know he’s never going to intentionally take me out and in my short career we have both tore up a lot of stuff just getting into some messes togather but we always talk after and laugh it off. He’s just a great a guy and a class act for sure. 

Q: After every race, fans line up at your trailer to get pictures, autographs, merch or just talk to you. How special is it to know you are a role model for people?

A. I enjoy it I love just getting to talk to people and mostly the kids. Seeing their faces when we let them climb in the car and how appreciative the parents are is awesome and I love doing it. I had guys like that for me growing up and no matter how bad my night was I want those kids to get the chance to have a picture, hero card and the chance to sit in the car. 

Q: Obviously, you have the same goals and expectations as every other driver. But is there one in particular goal/expectation you have set for yourself this season??

A: I really don’t, I try not to set any expectations other then win races and be better then I was the week before and to have fun. I try not to take it too serious. 

Q: You’re still early on in your Bowman Gray Street Stock career, could we possibly see you move up to another division in the future?

A: That I don’t know I am still trying to get the hang of things and driving a car. I am not gonna say no because you never know what that place will bring so maybe as I get better, more confident, and comfortable i might. 

Q: Last question, it’s something I like to ask drivers. “If you could race against any legendary driver (BGS or NASCAR) who would it be?”

A: I would have to say Spider Kimel would be the guy for me. I grew up around him my whole life and saw what he did for the sport and the fans at that place and to just have been able to share the track with him would have been a awesome experience.

This week’s feature race is the Kevin Powell Motorsports 100, which will be a 100-lap race in the Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series.

Drivers will qualify, but there will be a full-field redraw for position, and there will also be the double-file restart cone.

In addition to that in the 100-lap race, there will be the Fans’ Challenge where the top four qualifiers have the option of going to the back of the field before the redraw takes place. If any driver or driver finishes in the top four of the 100-lap race they will win all or part of the $3,000 Fans’ Challenge. If nobody wins the money it will roll over to the next 100-lap Modified race, making it $6,000.

There will also be two 20-lap races in the Law Offices of John Barrow Sportsman Series. Plus Street Stock and Stadium Stock races.