NAPA Auto Parts 200 - Brad Coleman Notes

FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS
NAPA AUTO PARTS 200 – CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE
MONTREAL, CANADA

Brad Coleman To Drive No. 18 FedEx Chevy in Montreal

RACE INFO:
Event: NAPA Auto Parts 200
Date/Time: August 4, 2007 / 3:30 p.m. ET
Length: 2.71 miles
Distance: 74 laps/200.46 miles
Shape: Road course
Turns: 15

EXPRESS NOTES:
Coleman Proving Himself: While Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brad Coleman has only driven in ten races this season, the 19 year-old 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 consecutive top-five finishes at Kentucky and Milwaukee, one top-10 and the polesitter at Talladega and two top-20 finishes 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 road course at Montreal comes in the middle of a six-week stretch of consecutive races for Coleman, by far his longest run of the year. The effort has taken him from St. Louis to ORP and then here to the road course at Montreal before continuing on to Watkins Glen, followed by the high speed track of Michigan and the night race on newly paved Bristol. Coleman will drive the #18 FedEx Express Chevrolet.

Coleman Wearing Special Helmet; Brings FedEx “Wear Your Heart on Your Helmet” Program to Canada: Coleman will wear a special designed race helmet when the NASCAR Busch Series cars take to the track this weekend. Coleman’s helmet was designed for him by Pierrefonds, Quebec native Mylène Lavoie and the 12-year old will join Coleman at Gilles Villeneuve on Friday for the presentation. In honor of Lavoie’s design and as part of the company’s ongoing support of Big Brothers Big Sisters, FedEx Canada will make a $70,000 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada – an organization that provides mentoring to over 24,000 children across Canada. The FedEx “Wear Your Heart on Your Helmet” program has roots in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series with FedEx Racing and driver Denny Hamlin. This season, Hamlin will wear a total of eleven helmets designed by patients at children’s hospitals across the United States, and by children granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish foundation. Following the season, all eleven helmets will be auctioned off to benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp for children with life threatening illnesses.

FedEx Express Fact: In an article published earlier this week titled “The Next Generation” (si.com), Sports Illustrated journalist Tim Tuttle ranks Coleman as the No. 2 Sprint Cup prospect, just behind Coleman’s good friend and fellow competitor Stephen Leicht of Robert Yates Racing. This is the latest in a number of rankings that put the young Texan in the Top 5 when prospective NASCAR stars of the future are discussed.

QUOTES
Coleman on Road Course Racing: “I have raced on almost every major road course in North America at least once, and many twice, with the exception of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Watkins Glen. I was too young to drive either of those but will now be running them both within the next week. Our strategy in my career development has always been one of cross-training, therefore I have equal parts road course and stock car oval experience. As my development continued I would race in a road course series and oval stock car series in the same season, maintaining that balance.”

Coleman on His Limited 2007 Busch Schedule: “I knew from the beginning I would only be behind the wheel for 17 Busch races, but I never knew it would be so difficult not being in the car. 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, and I’m looking forward to it. Building chemistry with a team when you are not in the car every weekend is tough, but I have great guys around me at JGR and we are making great progress together every time I am in the car. Jason Ratcliff (Crew Chief) and my crew have a tough job bouncing back and forth between drivers, but they handle it very well. 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.”

Coleman on Representing FedEx: “Representing FedEx in Canada is a real honor. FedEx is the title sponsor for Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 FedEx Nextel Cup car and Denny is one of my mentors. I have the greatest respect for what he has accomplished and the major role FedEx has played in his success. I am blessed to have FedEx allow me to be a part of their NASCAR efforts by representing them in Canada.”