However, despite posing three Top 5 and five Top 10 finishes in 17 starts – while also scoring a pole position along the way, at Talladega – Coleman left for Baker Curb Racing in the N'Wide Series and Hall of Fame Racing in the Sprint Cup. However, his deal with HFR consisted of a testing job throughout 2008, with the possibility to advance to the racing driver role within the team for 2009.
Coleman was released by Hall of Fame Racing at the end of the year, leaving the Texan driver no option but to go back to JGR for 2009.
“I never would have left Gibbs in the first place, but the team just didn't have the sponsorship available to put me in a full-time Nationwide ride in 2008 and we felt like I needed the seat time. I am grateful for both of the opportunities I had this year and appreciative to the owners and sponsors of each team,” said Coleman in a statement released during the course of last weekend.
“But I can tell you I have never been so happy in my life as when I got the call from Gibbs to come back. This is not only a world-class race team with great equipment, but it is the finest group of people I have ever worked with,” concluded the 20-year old driver.
“Brad showed us a lot of natural talent when we launched his Nationwide career here in 2007 and has matured a great deal by going through some tough challenges since then,” also revealed JGR president J.D. Gibbs after confirming Coleman's seat for 2009.
Google News