Coleman Back in the Saddle Again
19 Year-Old NBS Driver Heads to St. Louis to Begin Six Race Stretch
Charlotte, NC (July 16, 2007) – Joe Gibbs Racing teenage phenom Brad Coleman has adopted ESPN’s NASCAR Busch Series theme song “Back in the Saddle Again” as his own theme song for the 2007 season. The successful young Texan returns to the driver’s seat of the No. 18 Carino’s Italian Grill Chevrolet for the first time in a month following impressive back-to-back Top 5’s in Kentucky and Milwaukee.
“Aerosmith’s great song kind of sums it all up,” said Coleman. “I knew coming into the season that I was signed to a 17 race deal but I did not know how hard it would be to wait between races. Every time my team and I build up momentum, I have to sit out a month or so before my next race. That’s not an easy thing for my crew or me. I look forward to being back in the saddle in St. Louis.”
While Coleman has only driven in eight races this season, he has made the most of the opportunity by achieving the highest per race average finish of any non-Cup driver in the NASCAR Busch Series. His accomplishments to date include the consecutive Top 5’s at Kentucky and Milwaukee, a Top 10 and Pole at Talladega and two Top 20’s at Texas and Nashville. In his first race for Joe Gibbs Racing, he was running in the Top 10 at Mexico City prior to a transmission failure with less than 20 laps to go, which led to his only DNF of the year.
The last time Coleman came off a long absence from the car was a six week layoff prior to the Kentucky race where he finished second. Coleman credits his team with making the transition possible.
“Jason Ratcliff (Crew Chief) and my crew have a tough job bouncing back and forth between drivers, but they handle it very well,” stated Coleman. “It is hard for them to adjust to everything from different seats to driver styles but they are always prepared and ready to make the most of each opportunity. That takes an enormous effort and I am thankful for their commitment. Without those guys, this would be impossible.”
Gateway marks the first of a six week stretch of consecutive races for Coleman, by far his longest run of the year. The effort will take him from St. Louis to ORP and then on to the road courses at Montreal and Watkins Glen, followed by the high speed track of Michigan and the night race on newly paved Bristol.
Coleman says he is ready. “All I have been doing is training, training, and training. I have been lifting, running and going to every race wearing the headset so I can continue to learn. I also spend countless hours on my BRD simulator on each of these six courses. Now it’s time to get back in the race car.”
