▁with ▁his ▁racing . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁married ▁to ▁Br enda , ▁and ▁lived ▁near ▁Dallas , ▁Texas . ▁ ▁Em ery ▁died ▁after ▁a ▁prolong ed ▁ill ness . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 5 , ▁he ▁began ▁racing , ▁starting ▁with ▁a ▁C / G ▁‘ 4 1 ▁Che v ro let ▁coup é ▁g ass ers . ▁He ▁moved ▁up ▁to ▁fuel ▁cars ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 9 , ▁running ▁a ▁rear - eng ined ▁coup é . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁gas ▁classes ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁at ▁the ▁wheel ▁of ▁a ▁drag ster , ▁before ▁taking ▁the ▁wheel ▁of ▁car ▁owner ▁Wo ody ▁Parker ' s ▁Top ▁F uel ▁drag ster ▁( TF / D ) ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 2 . ▁ ▁That ▁car ▁was ▁built ▁by ▁P ete ▁Og den , ▁who ▁also ▁built ▁the ▁P ure ▁Hell ▁F uel ▁Alter ed ▁( AA / FA ) ▁for ▁Rich ▁Gu as co . ▁ ▁When ▁Don ▁Pet rich ▁quit ▁the ▁P ure ▁Hell ▁team ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁Em ery ▁replaced ▁him , ▁and ▁stayed ▁five ▁seasons ; ▁he ▁frequently ▁match ▁rac ed ▁his ▁friend ▁" W ild ▁Will ie " ▁Bor sch . ▁It ▁was ▁while ▁driving ▁P ure ▁Hell ▁he ▁met ▁D . ▁G annt , ▁who ▁was ▁a ▁crew man ▁for ▁Bor sch , ▁during ▁that ▁time . ▁ ▁P ure ▁Hell ▁was ▁entered ▁in ▁a ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁show