Ryan Gemmell Bio
Ryan Gemmell (pronounced geh-mull), born on August 14, 2000, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, where he drove the No. 29 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports. Gemmell is also a familiar face in vintage racing, having taken part in events such as the NASCAR Classic Series throughout his early career.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Gemmell was born on August 14, 2000, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, a small city in the western part of the state that has produced a number of motorsports enthusiasts. Growing up in Pennsylvania, he was introduced to racing culture at an early age, which helped shape his passion for stock car competition. The region has a strong tradition of grassroots and short-track racing, providing a natural training ground for aspiring drivers.
From his early years, Gemmell developed an interest in older machinery, which eventually led him to become a regular participant in vintage racing events. This background in classic and historic race cars gave him a strong foundation in car control and mechanical sympathy, skills that later translated to more modern stock car racing formats.
Path to NASCAR
Gemmell’s path to professional stock car racing began through vintage and historic racing series, including the NASCAR Classic Series, where he built a reputation as a frequent competitor. These early experiences allowed him to refine his race craft while gaining exposure to a variety of track types and racing formats common in American motorsports.
His strong performances in vintage competition eventually opened the door to a national-series opportunity. In 2024, it was announced that Gemmell would make his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International, marking his transition from historic racing to a modern stock car series sanctioned by NASCAR.
Ryan Gemmell Career
Early Career (2024)
Ryan Gemmell’s professional stock car career began in 2024 when he made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International. Driving the No. 29 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports, he entered the event as a part-time competitor with limited prior experience in the series. The debut represented a significant step up from his vintage racing background.
During the Watkins Glen weekend, Gemmell ran eleventh in the lone practice session before qualifying in tenth position. In the race itself, he completed every lap and brought home an eighth-place finish, completing the event on the lead lap and signaling a solid transition to the ARCA Menards Series.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2025)
Gemmell returned to the ARCA Menards Series in 2025, once again behind the wheel of the No. 29 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports, this time at Lime Rock Park. The road course event marked his second career ARCA start and an opportunity to build on the experience gained at Watkins Glen the year before.
In practice at Lime Rock, Gemmell posted the seventh-fastest time, then qualified sixth for the race. During the early laps, he ran as high as third place, showing strong pace in the opening run. Later in the event, he was forced off the track, but he recovered to finish fifth, earning his first career ARCA top-five finish.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gemmell’s racing background in vintage and historic series has given him a strong feel for mechanical grip and race-long car conservation. His comfort on road courses was evident at both Watkins Glen and Lime Rock Park, where he consistently posted competitive practice and qualifying speeds. Working with NEMCO Motorsports has helped him adapt those skills to modern stock car machinery.
Notable Races and Milestones
Gemmell’s most notable milestone to date is his fifth-place finish at Lime Rock Park in 2025, which marked his first top-five result in the ARCA Menards Series. His eighth-place debut at Watkins Glen in 2024 also stands out as a clean, lead-lap performance in his first national-series start.
Ryan Gemmell Career Wins
Ryan Gemmell has not yet recorded a victory in the ARCA Menards Series or any other major NASCAR-sanctioned national touring series. His career highlights to this point are defined by consistent lead-lap finishes and a breakthrough top-five result, rather than trips to victory lane. As a part-time driver, his results continue to build a foundation for future opportunities.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Across his two documented ARCA Menards Series starts, Gemmell has finished eighth at Watkins Glen International in 2024 and fifth at Lime Rock Park in 2025. His fifth-place run at Lime Rock represents his first career top-five finish in the series. Both performances came while driving the No. 29 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports.
Ryan Gemmell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Ryan Gemmell’s family background and racing lineage is limited. There are no widely reported details about parents, siblings, or other relatives involved in motorsports. His rise through vintage racing and into the ARCA Menards Series appears to have been driven primarily by his own initiative and the opportunities presented by NEMCO Motorsports.
2025 Season Performance
Ryan Gemmell’s 2025 ARCA Menards Series campaign has so far consisted of a single confirmed start at Lime Rock Park, where he drove the No. 29 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports. After qualifying sixth, he ran as high as third in the early laps before being forced off the track. He recovered to finish fifth, securing his first career top-five result in the series.
As a part-time entrant, Gemmell is not currently in the ARCA Menards Series championship playoff picture, but his Lime Rock performance suggests competitive pace on road courses. Continued development with NEMCO Motorsports and additional starts in 2025 could position him for expanded opportunities in future seasons, potentially including additional ARCA races or a step into NASCAR’s national touring series.