Ryan Gemmell spent the opening a part of the blockbuster LiUNA! 150 race weekend becoming a member of his rivals in saluting American inventory automobile racing’s legendary historical past whereas sweeping the race wins within the HSR NASCAR Basic introduced by Goodyear doubleheader at Lime Rock Park. Then he supplied the complete paddock and the massive crowd in attendance a doable glimpse of NASCAR’s future.
Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2025 HSR NASCAR Basic introduced by Goodyear season, Gemmell equaled the season win document of his coach, mentor and staff proprietor Joe Nemechek with flag-to-flag victories in each Friday’s qualifying race and Saturday’s 33-lap function occasion in his NEMCO Motorsports his 2009 No. 6 Toyota Camry. Gemmell got here into the Lime Rock weekend with one 2025 victory within the function race on the season-opening occasion in March at Sebring Worldwide Raceway whereas Nemechek arrived because the series-leading three-race winner.
With the scorecard evened up, Gemmell and Nemechek will battle for the HSR NASCAR Basic Professional division title within the second half of the 2025 HSR NASCAR Basic introduced by Goodyear season with a trio of doubleheaders at Watkins Glen Worldwide (August 8 – 10), VIRginia Worldwide Raceway (September 5 – 7) and the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway (October 3 – 5).
For now, Gemmell instantly referred to as on the momentum of the NASCAR Basic victory on the LiUNA! 150 with one other standout efficiency Saturday with a top-five end within the weekend-ending ARCA Menards Sequence Lime Rock 100 in his NEMCO Motorsports-prepared No. 29 TC3 Turf/Multibuilding Inc. Toyota Camry. Gemmell certified sixth and battled within the high three continuously within the 100-lap race enroute to a aggressive fifth-place end.
The primary order of enterprise for Gemmell at Lime Rock, nevertheless, was the HSR NASCAR Basic introduced by Goodyear doubleheader. Topping each official on-track session of the weekend, Gemmell began from the pole in each the Friday and Saturday races and led each circuit in every 33-lap race for a pair of commanding victories. Friday’s comfy 13.468 second win over the competitors was bettered by Saturday’s 22.646 second margin of victory.
Nemechek completed second in each races in his NEMCO Motorsports 2007 No. 47 Made in The USA Chevrolet Silverado however might by no means get shut sufficient to problem Gemmell.
As a substitute, Nemechek had his fingers full in Saturday’s function with the all the time fast Patrick Womack in his ex-FedEx Joe Gibbs Racing NEMCO-prepared 2014 No. 11 Toyota Camry. Womack handed Nemechek at first and held the place for a number of laps earlier than “Entrance Row Joe” retook second place and held it to the end.
Gemmell, Nemechek and series-debuting Buz McCall accomplished the NASCAR Basic Professional podium, with the spectacular 78-year-old McCall ending sixth total in his personal American Tools Racing (AER) 1998 No. 96 Caterpillar Chevrolet Monte Carlo. A profitable inventory automobile and sports activities automobile racing staff proprietor, McCall is the principal of AER and campaigned the road-race specification Monte Carlo in its prime with Ron Fellows and Robby Gordon. McCall purchased the No. 96 again at public sale early final yr and proved neither he nor the Chevy – the oldest driver and automobile competing in NASCAR Basic at Lime Rock – have fallen off the tempo.
In the meantime, Womack took the checkered flag Saturday a stable third total and secured the NASCAR Basic division win. He shared that podium with Scott Dolfi, who completed fourth total whereas taking class runner-up honors in his 2016 No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado. John Ciferno Sr. accomplished the general high 5 and captured third-place NASCAR Basic honors in his 2021 No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro.
Launched in response to the surging recognition of the previous HSR Group 8 historic inventory automobile class, the HSR NASCAR Basic introduced by Goodyear is open to retired inventory vehicles from lively competitors. Eligible entries embrace automobiles constructed to earlier NASCAR rule guide specs for Cup, Xfinity, Truck, and ARCA collection. Nevertheless, current-generation vehicles — such because the Cup Sequence Era 7 chassis — will not be permitted in NASCAR Basic competitors.
Subsequent up for the HSR NASCAR Basic introduced by Goodyear is the Go Bowling at The Glen full weekend of NASCAR competitors at Watkins Glen Worldwide, Aug. 8-10. This yr’s race marks the third-straight look for HSR historic inventory vehicles on the New York observe’s NASCAR weekend following final yr’s NASCAR Basic debut and an illustration race in 2023. At this occasion final yr, Gemmell made his ARCA Menard’s debut with an eighth place end along with competing in NASCAR Basic competitors.
Ryan Gemmell, Driver – 2009 No. 6 Toyota Camry: “It was nice, and actually why we go to races is to get the followers concerned. So, each time you possibly can go to an occasion like this the place there’s an enormous fan presence, it simply makes it that significantly better. It was additionally good that we had been all capable of exit and have a great clear race. No person had any actual points, no person broke, we placed on a great present for the followers and it was nice throughout. It was numerous enjoyable, my first time there, and the observe is a blast. The race followers up in Connecticut and that space are actually one thing. I would like to try to make a profession out of driving, and I’ll try to do as a lot as I can, however there’s a lot that goes into it. Quite a lot of playing cards need to fall your manner for stuff like that to occur, however I am definitely going to maintain attempting my hardest and see if I am unable to make it work out, that is for positive.”
Joe Nemechek, Driver – 2007 No. 47 Made in The USA Chevrolet Silverado: “All people had enjoyable. The observe is unimaginable. The followers had been unimaginable, and I couldn’t consider how many individuals had been there. The place was packed. Ryan received the perfect of me this previous weekend. He is actually good on the simulator, notably on his house sim, so he was way more ready than me. The primary time I noticed the observe was Friday, however Ryan simply had that little little bit of edge on what to do, and that’s actually good. He’s doing the work, that is all about getting the coaching, and I’m attempting to hurry up his studying curve. He is a fast learner, he is aware of all of the components of the race automobile, and I’m attempting to do the identical factor I did with him that I did with my son John Hunter Nemechek. We wish to see him have some future success. Pat was on it this weekend too. For being at a brand new race observe, I used to be impressed with how shortly he picked it up, together with all of our drivers actually. All of our HSR NASCAR Basic guys picked up the observe shortly, discovered extra pace each session, they usually cherished the race observe.”
Pat Womack, Driver – 2014 No. 11 Toyota Camry: “It is an honor to be a part of the NASCAR Basic group and to see it rising. For many of us, it was the primary time at Lime Rock, and what an unimaginable expertise. The followers are so optimistic, and we had lots of people coming to take a look at the vehicles, youngsters sitting in vehicles and numerous footage. And what an unimaginable observe. Quite a lot of elevation adjustments and slightly ‘crazy de loop’ there on the again a part of the observe, which is numerous enjoyable in a NASCAR automobile. It was an honor to be at Lime Rock. The observe itself is a lot enjoyable. I received Joe at first on Saturday, which was a pleasant little shock, so for about two or three laps I received to mess around in second, however he ended up getting by me once more. I felt like I had higher tempo Saturday than Friday, so I feel it was simply seat time and studying the observe, which was actually useful.”
