Robin Pemberton is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 motor racing official

Official

An official is someone who holds an office in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority .A government official or functionary is an official who is involved in public...

, currently the vice president for competition of NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

. He has held that position since 2004.

Previously, Pemberton was a crew chief

Pit stop

In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above...

 for several NASCAR teams over the course of 17 years, heading teams for Rusty Wallace

Rusty Wallace

Russell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...

, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty

Kyle Petty

Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam...

. Pemberton was field manager for Ford Racing

Ford Racing

Ford Racing is the Ford Motor Company's racing division and the multinational name used for its motorsport activity.-History:* 1896 - Henry Ford reached a top speed of 20 mph in his first car, Quadricycle....

 immediately prior to being named VP of Competition.

NASCAR team member

Pemberton began his NASCAR career as a mechanic and fabricator with Petty Enterprises

Petty Enterprises

Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...

 in 1979, becoming a crew chief in 1984. He moved to Roush Racing at its inception in 1987, then moved to Penske Racing South in 1995. Pemberton was Wallace's crew chief for 230 races, which had been the longest driver/crew chief combination in NASCAR. He returned to Petty to serve as general manager in 2002.
He now resides in Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...

, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, the capital of NASCAR. He has two sons, Bray and Briggs.

NASCAR official

In his current position, Pemberton is in charge of rules enforcement. That sometimes makes him the object of criticism from drivers, crews and the sport's particularly rabid fans. Pemberton also is called on to enforce discipline among drivers, often in consultation with Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby

John Darby (NASCAR official)

John Darby is an American motor racing official, currently serving as Managing Director of Competition Director of NASCAR. In this capacity, oversees the competition directors of the Sprint Cup Series , the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series...

 and NASCAR President Mike Helton

Mike Helton

Michael Helton is the president of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing . He replaced Bill France, Jr. in November 2000 as the company's third president. He was named the Chief Operating Officer of NASCAR in February 1999....

. Pemberton gained notoriety before and during the 2007 Daytona 500

2007 Daytona 500

The 2007 Daytona 500 was the first race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, taking place on February 18, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Kevin Harvick won the race by .02 second over Mark Martin in the closest finish since the first race at Daytona...

, in particular the 2007 NASCAR Gatorade Duel scandal

2007 NASCAR Gatorade Duel scandal

The 2007 NASCAR Gatorade Duel Scandal was a collection of various allegations of cheating in the 2007 NASCAR Gatorade Duels, the qualifying event for the Daytona 500.-Pole qualifying:...

, when he suspended six crew chiefs for various infractions, and also threw out the director of competition for Michael Waltrip Racing's new team for using an illegal fuel additive during qualifying. Pemberton also penalized the team 100 NEXTEL Series driver and owner points, one of the most severe point penalties in the modern history of NASCAR's top level of racing.

His brother Ryan Pemberton was Mark Martin's crew chief in 2007. Martin and Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...

 were battling for the win on the final lap of the 2007 Daytona 500. The race ended under caution flag when a big wreck happened on that final lap. Robin Pemberton determined the exact moment that the caution flag was displayed, which resulted in Harvick being declared the winner. "We [Robin and Ryan Pemberton] keep the business part separate," Ryan Pemberton said. "We don't put ourselves in position to do that. I don't call him to talk to him about it. I don't ask him any questions."

One of his most famous quotes is Have at it, boys

Have at it, boys

"Have at it, boys" was a quote formerly used by NASCAR to describe the philosophy that the Sprint Cup Series drivers used starting in the 2010 season to solve their disputes on the race track. This practice was abandoned near the end of the 2011 season...

; which is the new philosophy of the Sprint Cup Series in the 2010s.