Coming off a Top 20 finish at Texas, Rookie Joe Gibbs Racing driver Brad Coleman has had a great start to his inaugural season in the NASCAR Busch Series. He looks to claim his third consecutive Top 20 this weekend when he gets behind the wheel of the No. 18 Carino’s Italian Grill Chevrolet in the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway.
“We have had a great start to the season and my team and I are really beginning to gel, ” stated Coleman. “It is difficult to get in sync when you run a partial schedule, but I credit my Crew Chief, Jason Radcliffe, and all the No. 18 guys with making it work. This will be just our fifth race together but I feel like we are making great progress as a team. ”
This will mark the rookie’s first superspeedway race for the Joe Gibbs Racing organization, first race at Talladega, and his second career race on a superspeedway (ARCA Daytona 2007).
“I ran the ARCA 200 with Bobby Gerhart Racing at Daytona in February to start the season and we were in the Top 10 and moving up when a tire blew and ended my day, ” said Coleman. “I enjoy driving on a superspeedway and the strategy that goes with restrictor plate racing. Someone said it’s like playing chess at 200 MPH, and I think that’s a good analogy. ”
After running Talladega, Coleman will pilot the No. 18 in Richmond (May 4); Kentucky (June 16); Milwaukee (June 23); Gateway (July 21); Indianapolis (July 28); Montreal (Aug. 4); Watkins Glen (Aug. 11); Michigan (Aug. 18); Bristol (Aug. 24); Dover (Sept. 22); Memphis (Oct. 27) and Phoenix (Nov. 10).
