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Emy Kissick is a rising Spec MX-5 racer who went from autocrossing her dad’s Miata in high school to competing at the SCCA Runoffs and winning a Mazda scholarship—all while balancing pre-med studies and proving that you don’t need a trust fund to make it in motorsports.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in Olympia, Washington, Emy Kissick wasn’t exactly surrounded by racing royalty. Her path into motorsports started the way a lot of great racing stories do—with a parent who had a thing for cars and a kid curious enough to pay attention. Her dad was into autocross, and instead of leaving her at home on weekends, he brought her along. She watched, she learned, and eventually, she got behind the wheel herself.

While still in high school, Kissick started autocrossing her father’s Mazda Miata. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real seat time, and she was hooked. Racing became the thing she did when she wasn’t buried in textbooks. And unlike a lot of young drivers who dabble and drift away, she stuck with it—even as she headed off to college with plans that had nothing to do with checkered flags.

OTHER INTERESTS

Kissick graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2025, where she studied neuroscience with an eye toward medical school. Yes, you read that right—pre-med and racing. While most of her peers were stressing over organic chemistry and MCATs, she was also figuring out how to fund track days and squeeze in race weekends between exams. It’s the kind of juggling act that would make most people’s heads spin, but she managed to pull it off without dropping either ball.

Her ability to balance two wildly different worlds says a lot about her discipline and priorities. She’s not just a racer who happens to be smart, or a student who happens to race—she’s both, fully committed, and she’s made it work when plenty of people would’ve told her to pick one.

EARLY SUCCESS

Kissick’s transition from autocross to wheel-to-wheel racing came through the SCCA, where she found her groove in Spec MX-5. The class was a natural fit—affordable, competitive, and packed with drivers who knew how to hustle a Miata. She didn’t have a factory deal or a famous last name, so she did what scrappy racers do: she learned fast, worked hard, and started racking up results.

Her early racing experiences included competing in SCCA regional events, where she honed her skills in close-quarters racing. She also took on an SCCA Targa event, which she later described as an experience she’d recommend to anyone looking to push themselves in a different kind of competition. It wasn’t just about speed—it was about precision, navigation, and adaptability, all things that translated back to her road racing.

By 2024, Kissick had worked her way up to the SCCA Runoffs, the national championship event that every club racer dreams of reaching. Competing at that level, especially as a young driver without major sponsorship, was proof that she belonged. She wasn’t just showing up—she was competitive, and people in the paddock started to notice.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024: Competed at the SCCA Runoffs in Spec MX-5[1].
• 2024: Selected as a finalist for the Mazda Spec MX-5 Shootout at Homestead-Miami Speedway[2].
• 2024: Awarded a $7,500 Mazda scholarship following the Spec MX-5 Shootout[3].
• 2025: Returned to compete at the SCCA Runoffs in Spec MX-5[4].
• 2025: Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in neuroscience[5].

INSPIRATIONS

Kissick has credited her father as a major influence in her racing journey. He introduced her to autocross, let her drive his Miata, and supported her interest in motorsports from the beginning. That early exposure gave her not just the skills, but the confidence to keep going when racing got expensive and complicated.

Beyond family, she’s been shaped by the SCCA community itself—a world where people race because they love it, not because they’re chasing fame or fortune. That grassroots mentality resonates with her. She’s not trying to be the next influencer-racer with a perfectly curated Instagram feed. She’s there to drive, to compete, and to get better.

REPUTATION

In the Spec MX-5 community, Kissick has earned respect for being the real deal. She’s young, she’s fast, and she’s doing it without the kind of backing that smooths the path for a lot of drivers. People who’ve raced with her know she’s not coasting on talent alone—she’s put in the work, she’s smart about her approach, and she shows up prepared.

She’s also become something of a role model for younger drivers, particularly women, who see her balancing school and racing and think, “Maybe I can do that too.” She’s proof that you don’t have to choose between having a brain and having speed, and that motorsports isn’t just for people who can write checks without checking their bank account first. Her story resonates because it’s relatable, and because she’s living it out loud without pretending it’s easy.

Her appearance on podcasts and in SCCA media has only amplified that reputation. She comes across as thoughtful, genuine, and refreshingly unpretentious—exactly the kind of person the sport needs more of. She talks openly about the challenges of funding her racing, the realities of being a student-athlete in a non-traditional sport, and why she loves what she does even when it’s hard.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Looking ahead, Kissick is focused on continuing her racing career while navigating the next steps in her academic and professional life. With her neuroscience degree in hand as of 2025, she’s weighing her options—medical school is still on the table, but so is finding ways to keep racing at a high level. It’s a crossroads a lot of young drivers face, but few handle with as much clarity and determination as she does.

She’s expressed interest in continuing to compete in Spec MX-5 and potentially exploring other opportunities within the Mazda motorsports ecosystem, especially given her scholarship and the connections she’s built. Whether that means stepping up to a different class, pursuing coaching, or finding a way to blend her scientific mind with her racing passion, she’s keeping her options open.

What’s clear is that she’s not done. She’s not treating racing as a phase or a hobby she’ll outgrow. She’s figuring out how to make it work long-term, and if her track record is any indication, she’ll find a way.

REFERENCES

SCCA – 2025 Runoffs SMX: Lampe Makes Two
Mazda Motorsports – $500,000 in Scholarships Awarded at 2024 Mazda Shootout
YouTube – Emy Kissick Interview
Avants Podcast – Emy Kissick Is the Kid All Car People Hope For
SCCA – This Spec MX-5 Racer Tackled an SCCA Targa
Spec Miata – Emy Kissick Profile
University of Pennsylvania – 2025 Commencement Program
ProFormance Racing School – Anniversary Fest