SEEKONK, Mass. – When it comes to high level brand visibility and direct relationships with drivers, teams, tracks and series’ in the Northeast short track racing market and beyond in recent years, USNEPower has led the field.
And now USNEPower and the company’s founder and principal, David Miller Jr., are ready to take the next huge step for the business’s involvement in motorsports.
On Saturday Miller and veteran Modified driver Patrick Emerling announced the formation of the USNEPower Motorsports racing team.
Miller – a longtime race fan who got involved in race team sponsorship in 2017 – and Emerling announced the new partnership Saturday morning at Seekonk Speedway prior to the running of the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series Haunted Hundred.
The first USNEPower Motorsports team was also unveiled during the announcement of the new team.
The Miller owned USNEPower Motorsports team will field the No. 1 car for Patrick Emerling full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and in select events with the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series in 2026.
“I think every race fan has a dream of being involved in possibly ownership,” Miller told RaceDayCT. “So it’s pretty natural for it to happen. For the last couple of years we’ve been involve with a lot of race teams and have a lot of great memories with that. But taking it to the next level was something that I’ve been working on with Patrick’s team for about a year and a half to put it together. We’re really excited that we finally get to announce it today.”
Said Emerling: “It’s really really cool. We’re really really excited to get rolling and get started. Rich Gautreau originally started a really good thing [in 2024] with the Fleetworks No. 1 team and now with David, we’re moving forward with David and USNEPower with the new ownership. Just super excited. We’re going to build on … it’s going to be the same, me and [crew chief Dale Hedquist] working together, and a lot of the same crew and stuff like that. We’re really looking forward to this. It’s something we’ve been working on. We both have an incredible passion for racing Modifieds and the sport. Just really excited for this.”
USNEPower is the country’s premier provider of factory-authorized emergency repair and preventive maintenance for low- and medium-voltage electrical apparatus. The company is headquartered in Westfield, Mass. Earlier this year USNEPower opened its new Midwest operations in West Des Moines, Iowa. USNEPower delivers construction, field service, equipment rentals, and in-shop repairs to customers nationwide.
Miller said the formation of the team represents a more strategic focus on ownership and select partnerships in racing for USNEPower.
“This is the natural evolution of our relationship with the sport,” Miller said. “We’ve sponsored dozens of teams over the years, but team ownership allows us to tell a more focused story about who we are—an organization built on reliability, precision, and showing up when it matters most. Motorsports is the perfect reflection of that.”
USNEPower’s first sponsorship in the sport came with Rowan Pennink on the Boehler Racing Enterprises “Ole Blue” No. 3 car in 2017. Miller has always stressed that his involvement with teams has always first been about being a fan and secondly about the partnerships.
USNEPower had partnerships with more than 27 drivers and six events in 2025. With the introduction of the USNEPower Motorsports team, the business will begin a more focused approach on partnerships in 2026. In addition to the new team with Emerling, USNEPower will have relationships with drivers Tom Abele Jr., John-Michael Shenette and Timmy Solomito for 2026. USNEPower will also return as the title sponsor in 2025 for the Whelen Modified Tour Duel at the Dog 200 at Monadnock Speedway and the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series Haunted Hundred at Seekonk Speedway.
“I think the biggest thing with … starting USNEPower Motorsports is that we’re going to have consistent exposure,” Miller said. “Our customers and fans will be able to see where we’re at and who we are with on a consistent basis. While we’ve had a great time working with all the other teams and drivers, there was sometimes confusion on who was representing us on certain nights.”
Miller expects the introduction of team ownership will mark a shift from pure brand visibility to a deeper level of customer engagement and relationship building.
“When fans see USNEPower on a car, we want them to know why,” Miller said. “We’re the first call for factory-authorized emergency repair and preventive maintenance of electrical equipment. Racing gives us a powerful way to demonstrate that precision, speed, and reliability aren’t just part of our work—they’re who we are.”
Emerling is a 15-year veteran of the Whelen Modified Tour with nine career victories with the series, including two victories in 2025. He finished third in the series standings in 2024 and fifth in 2025. Emerling has also competed in selected events in recent years with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
“We’ve been close to a championship,” said Emerling. “With USNEPower Motorsports behind us, I believe we have everything it takes to finish the job.”
Said Miller: “I think it’s great that we’ve got such good branding with USNEPower Motorsports that really ties into who we are and brings a team that’s an upfront runner. I think it’s just going to propel us to a great opportunity.”
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