Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Busch Series Rookie driver Brad Coleman can’t enter a casino floor in Las Vegas for two more years, but he is prepared to run with the big boys at 200 MPH around Las Vegas’ fastest entertainment venue in the Sam’s Town 300 this weekend.
Coleman brings a strong debut in Mexico City (running top ten when transmission failed) and the experience of a successful test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in February to the track in his second race for JGR.
“I was ready for the Las Vegas race the second my day ended at Mexico City. My team had done a super job of dialing the car in and we were running some of the fastest laps on the track on our way to the front when the transmission went south. I believe we had a top five finish coming but it doesn’t count until you bring it across the line, †the young Texan said.
Coleman hopes to be dealt a better hand when he takes to the Vegas track in the No. 18 Z-Line Designs Chevrolet.
“Vegas was very fast in the February test and all one has to do is listen to the comments from the Nextel Cup drivers to know we are in for an exciting race. It will take great patience and smart driving to put this Z-Line Design car where it belongs to be, †stated Coleman. “I am prepared to do just that. â€
In 2006, the successful young ARCA driver posted the highest average finishing position (third) by notching top-five honors in eight of his nine starts, which included his first major stock car win at Kentucky Speedway in July when he held off eight-time series champion Frank Kimmel through two green-white-checkered restarts. Coleman also ran his first of two career NASCAR Busch Series races in 2006 at Nashville Speedway the week after he graduated high school where he lived and trained in Martinsville, VA.
Coleman’s strong showing in ARCA, record-setting run in the Rolex 24 of Daytona at 16 years-old, 2005 Late Model Rookie Points Championship in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, and extensive open wheel experience prompted Speed Channel’s Dave Despain to call him “The prototype NASCAR young gun of the future. â€
After celebrating his 19th birthday last week in Mexico City, Coleman will pilot the No. 18 in Las Vegas this week, then it’s off to Nashville (April 7); Texas (April 14); Talladega (April 28); 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). The remaining races in the No. 18 will be shared by fellow teammates Aric Amirola (7), Kevin Conway (8), and Tony Stewart (3).
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