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Coleman leaves Gibbs for full-time Nationwide ride with Brewco
Joe Gibbs Racing has lost one of its much-admired group of ``Young Guns,'' with 19-year-old Brad Coleman set to leave the team at the end of the 2007 season to become a full-time driver with Brewco Motorsports in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, currently the Busch Series.
``It looked like things were shaping up for a full-time run for the championship with JGR in 2008 but, after the Gibbs Cup drivers had filled the sponsored Nationwide seats, there was no room left for a full season,'' Coleman explained. ``It would have been difficult for me to run another partial season in 2008 because I want to be in the race car every weekend and I am thankful for Brewco and (sponsor) Kleenex providing me that opportunity.''
Coleman will take over the No. 27 Ford Fusion that has been shared during the past two seasons by Nextel Cup drivers Greg Biffle, Robby Gordon, Jamie McMurray and Ward Burton.
Brewco, recently bought by a new ownership group, plans to shift from weekly driver changes to one driver and make a run at the Nationwide championship.
``We believe Brad is one of the hottest young prospects on the circuit and when we found out he was not going to be in a full ride at Gibbs, we made a run for him,'' Brewco owner and CEO Gary Baker said. ``He ... is the kind of guy we want to build our organization around. He is not only talented on the track, but off the track as well, and will add significant value to our sponsors.
``We think he can contend for the Nationwide championship next year and the guys on the team are already excited about 2008.''
Coleman has driven in 15 races this season in JGR's driver development program, posting three top-fives and five top-10s. He won the pole at Talladega Superspeedway.
The move will reunite Coleman with Shawn Parker, his former crew chief. Running Brewco's development program in 2006, Parker guided Coleman to a successful ARCA season. The youngster had eight top-fives in nine races, topped by a win at Kentucky. Coleman is equally optimistic in his assessment for 2008.
``The new owners of Brewco have promised to do whatever it takes to put this team back into championship contention and I can guarantee you I will do my part to lead that effort,'' Coleman said. ``Besides, I think it will be fun putting an independent team at the top of the charts.''
The Associated Press |
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