Ryan Pemberton - Crew Chief, #44 UPS Toyota Camry
| Birthdate | 06/01/69 |
| Birthplace | Saratoga, N.Y. |
| Residence | Mooresville, N.C. |
| Wife | Andrea |
| Children | Payton, Britton |
Racing is a family sport and a family tradition for crew chief Ryan Pemberton. The Pemberton name is renowned in the NASCAR garage, making it only natural for Pemberton to follow in the footsteps of his famous crew chief brother Robin. Even with his family history in motorsports, Pemberton earned the success he has experienced every step of the way.
Pemberton grew up in Saratoga Springs, just 35 miles north of Albany in upstate New York, where he spent his youth visiting the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. While Pemberton enjoyed working with cars early on, it was his older brother Robin who paved the way for him to enter the ranks of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. After the family relocated from upstate New York to North Carolina, Pemberton spent his afternoons at the Petty Enterprises shop where Robin worked.
"I was living in Greensboro finishing high school, and at the time, their shop was pretty close to Greensboro," Pemberton said. "I got to hanging out a lot over there. That's pretty much how you get hooked on it. When you're following your brother around, you watch what he's doing and you automatically have an interest in it. But I think really when Robin started working for Roush Racing about the fall of 1987, that's when I really wanted to get into it."
Pemberton got his start on the ground floor, literally. He began sweeping floors at Roush Racing in 1988, and later became a mechanic for driver Mark Martin, while Robin served as the crew chief. Pemberton was a member of the #6 Roush team when Martin scored his first career Sprint Cup Series victory in 1989 at North Carolina Speedway. Eventually the pair and third brother, Roman, would all work together at Roush.
That alliance eventually ended and in 1991 Pemberton ventured out on his own, moving over to Robert Yates Racing (RYR). Pemberton again had the opportunity to study the sport under a legendary leader, working as a tire specialist for crew chief Larry McReynolds and the late Davey Allison. During the 1991 season with Pemberton on board, Allison won a total of five races including the Coca-Cola 600, finishing third in the Series point standings. The 2002 season got off to a strong start with Allison winning the Daytona 500 but Pemberton decided it was time to again join forces with his brother, Robin.
From 1993 to 1995, Pemberton worked as a mechanic at Team SABCO for Felix Sabates and driver Kyle Petty where his brother was crew chief. The time was nearing though where Pemberton would branch out and get his first taste as a crew chief. Pemberton accepted an offer to become head wrench for Larry Pearson's NASCAR Nationwide Series Grand National Division team during 1995 season. Pemberton recalls Pearson's victory at Darlington Raceway in March, 1995 as one of the highlights of his career.
"I was around 25 years old when we won that race so I was still really young in the sport, especially as a crew chief," Pemberton remembers. "Our team was definitely at a disadvantage in terms of funding compared to the Cup organizations and to go out and win against guys like Rusty (Wallace), Terry (Labonte) and Mark (Martin) was amazing. I've had the opportunity to go to victory lane in the Sprint Cup Series but I have to admit that day in Darlington is as special as any race in my career."
Pemberton would remain on board with Pearson through 1996 before graduating to the Sprint Cup ranks in 1997 as the first crew chief for the #36 Skittles Pontiac after being hired at MB2 Motorsports. In 1998, Ernie Irvan took over the MB2 driving duties from driver Derrick Cope, where he and Pemberton combined for three poles and 11 top 10 finishes. The team finished 15th in the final owner's point standings, a career best for both Pemberton and the MB2 team.