Ryan Hemphill
Encyclopedia
Ryan Hemphill is a NASCAR
driver from Apollo, Pennsylvania
.
Ryan, a second generation racer, started his racing career at the age of 12, when his father put him behind the wheel of a go-kart. He went on to race in go-carts both locally and nationally for a period of 3 years. During this span, Ryan collected approximately 50 wins.
At the age of 15, Ryan advanced to Legacy cars (three-quarter scale Nextel Cup
cars), where he competed for 2 years and amassed 5 wins and 3 poles including winning the Blue-Grey Shootout at the Jennerstown Speedway
(PA) and the Fireball Roberts Memorial at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway
(NC).
In 1999, while a senior at Kiski Area High School (PA), Ryan moved into Late Model competition locally at Motordrome (PA) and Jennerstown (PA) Speedways. In impressive fashion Ryan won the Rookie of the Year Award at both of these tracks. At the Motordrome Speedway, Hemphill garnered 20 top 10 finishes in 20 starts while finishing 2nd in the tight points battle, while at Jennerstown he finished a strong 6th in points.
The 2000 season saw Ryan continue his maturation as a race car driver. He continued his participation at the Motordrome Speedway as he finished 3rd in the overall points and collected 3 wins, 17 top 5 and 10 top 10 finishes. Ryan also stepped up with his participation in 2 American Speed Association
(ASA) events where he finished 12th in both. The year was capped off with his high school graduation and being named Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown (MD) Sportsman of the Year.
In 2001, Hemphill concentrated on gaining as much experience behind the wheel of a race car as possible. He limited his Motordrome Speedway schedule to 11 events where he won 5 times and earned 10 top 5 finishes. He expanded his ASA schedule and competed in 6 events with a season best 6th place finish at the Chicago Motor Speedway
. Hemphill also moved up to the NASCAR All-Pro Series and impressed many with his 3rd place finish at Memphis Motorsports Park
in his first race as well as a 4th place finish in his ARCA Re/Max Series
debut at the Milwaukee Mile
. He was also selected as a member of the GM Vortec Power Team Professionals.
Ryan Hemphill made himself known in 2002 and 2003 driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
for multiple owners, including Rick Ware
, Bobby Hamilton
, and Billy Ballew. In nine races, he scored one top ten.
Hemphill broke out in the 2004 ARCA season, scoring 6 wins and 10 top tens in eleven races, under the Chip Ganassi Racing
driver development program
. In 2005, Hemphill was promoted to the NASCAR Busch Series
in the Biagi Brothers Racing Ganassi-assisted program, driving the #4 Geico
Dodge Charger. However, after eleven races, with only mediocre results, Hemphill was released from the car and from his Chip Ganassi Racing driver development program and finished last in the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year standings.
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...
driver from Apollo, Pennsylvania
Apollo, Pennsylvania
Apollo is a borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States, 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in a former coal-mining region. Apollo was settled in 1790, laid out in 1816, and incorporated as a borough in 1848. The town was originally known as 'Warren', but was later renamed to avoid...
.
Ryan, a second generation racer, started his racing career at the age of 12, when his father put him behind the wheel of a go-kart. He went on to race in go-carts both locally and nationally for a period of 3 years. During this span, Ryan collected approximately 50 wins.
At the age of 15, Ryan advanced to Legacy cars (three-quarter scale Nextel Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
cars), where he competed for 2 years and amassed 5 wins and 3 poles including winning the Blue-Grey Shootout at the Jennerstown Speedway
Jennerstown Speedway
Jennerstown Speedway is a racetrack in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania, United States.-Track layout:The track is a asphalt oval. The straightaways are banked 6°, and turns are banked 9°.-Scheduled events:...
(PA) and the Fireball Roberts Memorial at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway is a short track located in Hickory, North Carolina. It is one of stock car racing's most storied venues, and is often referred to as "The World's Most Famous Short Track" and the "Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars"....
(NC).
In 1999, while a senior at Kiski Area High School (PA), Ryan moved into Late Model competition locally at Motordrome (PA) and Jennerstown (PA) Speedways. In impressive fashion Ryan won the Rookie of the Year Award at both of these tracks. At the Motordrome Speedway, Hemphill garnered 20 top 10 finishes in 20 starts while finishing 2nd in the tight points battle, while at Jennerstown he finished a strong 6th in points.
The 2000 season saw Ryan continue his maturation as a race car driver. He continued his participation at the Motordrome Speedway as he finished 3rd in the overall points and collected 3 wins, 17 top 5 and 10 top 10 finishes. Ryan also stepped up with his participation in 2 American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
(ASA) events where he finished 12th in both. The year was capped off with his high school graduation and being named Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown (MD) Sportsman of the Year.
In 2001, Hemphill concentrated on gaining as much experience behind the wheel of a race car as possible. He limited his Motordrome Speedway schedule to 11 events where he won 5 times and earned 10 top 5 finishes. He expanded his ASA schedule and competed in 6 events with a season best 6th place finish at the Chicago Motor Speedway
Chicago Motor Speedway
The Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park located in Cicero, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, was built in 1999 by a group including Chip Ganassi, owner of Chip Ganassi Racing. In 2002 the oval shaped track suspended operations due to financial conditions in the motorsports industry. The...
. Hemphill also moved up to the NASCAR All-Pro Series and impressed many with his 3rd place finish at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
in his first race as well as a 4th place finish in his ARCA Re/Max Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
debut at the Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
. He was also selected as a member of the GM Vortec Power Team Professionals.
Ryan Hemphill made himself known in 2002 and 2003 driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
for multiple owners, including Rick Ware
Rick Ware
Rick Ware , is a professional racecar driver and owner of Rick Ware Racing.When he was nine years old, he began racing motocross and moved up to the bicycle class when he was 12....
, Bobby Hamilton
Bobby Hamilton
Charles Robert Hamilton, Sr. was a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit and the winner of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Hamilton owned Bobby Hamilton Racing, which fielded three entries in each NCWTS event...
, and Billy Ballew. In nine races, he scored one top ten.
Hemphill broke out in the 2004 ARCA season, scoring 6 wins and 10 top tens in eleven races, under the Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships...
driver development program
Driver development program
A Driver development program is a program used by racing teams to develop younger drivers. It is widely used in both Formula One and NASCAR, usually consisting of a team signing a driver to a multi-year contract in which they run in minor-league racing divisions A Driver development program is a...
. In 2005, Hemphill was promoted to the NASCAR Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
in the Biagi Brothers Racing Ganassi-assisted program, driving the #4 Geico
GEICO
The Government Employees Insurance Company is an auto insurance company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that as of 2007 provided coverage for more than 10 million motor vehicles owned by more than 9 million policy holders. GEICO writes private passenger automobile insurance...
Dodge Charger. However, after eleven races, with only mediocre results, Hemphill was released from the car and from his Chip Ganassi Racing driver development program and finished last in the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year standings.