Gibbs expects Coleman to return to Nationwide ride

[Schwartz Fan]

Joe Gibbs Racing expects Brad Coleman to return to Nationwide ride
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Sunday, November 23, 2008


ORLANDO, Fla. – Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs said Saturday he hopes to bring driver Brad Coleman back to the team’s Nationwide Series operation in 2009.

Coleman was a part-time Gibbs driver in 2007 but left for a full-time ride with Baker Curb Racing this season. Coleman left Baker Curb for a shot at Hall of Fame Racing’s Sprint Cup ride, but that deal didn’t work out, and Coleman was on the sidelines for the latter stages of 2008.

“All the non-combo events, we would love to have Brad,” Gibbs said. “We’re kinda working with [Brad’s father] Brandon, and hopefully we can work something out.

“Brad’s awesome to work with. We wish we could’ve kept working with him. It just didn’t work out.”

Coleman ran 17 races for JGR in 2007, winning a pole and posting five top-10 finishes, including a career-best second at Kentucky that year.

Gibbs said the deal is pending sponsorship for the Nationwide standalone events on the No. 20 Toyota. He would share the car with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano next year.

“We’ve got some stuff working,” Gibbs said. “It’s not the easiest economy, but we’ve got some stuff we think will work out because it will fit well so we can run two full programs.”

Sprint Cup driver Kyle Busch is slated to run the full Nationwide schedule in the team’s No. 18 Toyota next year.


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