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ARCA: Coleman Credits ARCA, Keselowski Wants More
Written by: Mike Harper
RaceTalkRadio.com   http://www.racetalkradio.com
07/05/2007 - 07:00 PM
Midland, MI
 
Brad Coleman, No. 18 Carino's Italian Grill Chevrolet, credits ARCA Experience for his success in the NASCAR Busch Series. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) » More Photos
Brad Coleman is making a name for himself these days in NASCAR. This 19 year old race car driver from Houston, Texas joined forces with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2007 season and is coming off two top five finishes in the NASCAR Busch Series including a career best finish of second at Kentucky Speedway.

Like many drivers before him, Coleman has a special story on how his racing career started. But while his story may lack the local flavor of short track racing in Texas, what's evident in Coleman is his talent and ability to shine under the pressures of major league stock car racing.

An interesting fact about this young man is he chose racing as a career even though his family had no background in sport. If he wanted to follow in his family's footsteps, basketball would've been the career choice. Coleman's grandfather is a Texas Hall of Fame basketball coach and his father also played basketball. However, at the age of 12, Coleman made a decision that would not only change his life but also change the lives of those around him - he walked away from basketball.

"One day I walked off the court after a basketball game and said Dad, I don't want to play basketball any longer. I want to be a race car driver," said Coleman. "He looked at me and said, sure son, whatever you would like to do. I don't think he took me seriously."

In 2006, Coleman signed with Brewco Motorsports and raced a partial schedule in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. In nine events, Coleman had eight top five finishes and won his first stock car race at Kentucky Speedway.

"That changed my life," said Coleman during this week's SPEEDtv.com Hot Seat interview. "Because of that, we got the call from Joe Gibbs Racing which has led to this year, which has been pretty much the best year of my life."

While Coleman admits he had a learning curve to overcome by moving from ARCA to the Busch Series, he credits ARCA for his current success. "If it wasn't for the ARCA series I definitely wouldn't have the advantage I have right now and wouldn't have learned a lot of what I've learned."

Coleman and
his team now wait for his next opportunity to race and that comes on July 21, 2007 in the Busch Series 250 at Gateway International Raceway.
Brian Keselowski celebrates at the Sara Lee/GFS Marketplace 200 at Berlin Raceway, Saturday, July 15, 2006. (ARCA RE/MAX Photo) » More Photos

This weekend the ARCA RE/MAX Series heads to Berlin Raceway where the name Keselowski continues to be the buzz of the racing world. While Brad Keselowski has raised the eyebrows of those in NASCAR, older brother Brian comes into Berlin Raceway looking to defend his race win from last season.

Brian, who has competed in five ARCA RE/MAX Series events this season, has one win and three top fives. And, heading to Berlin he is favored by many in the industry.

As I watch Brian compete, I often find myself asking why he doesn't race a full ARCA schedule and go for the championship. Like what happened to his younger brother in the Craftsman Truck Series, given the right opportunity I believe Brian would turn heads and open doors in ARCA.

In a recent interview the question of running full-time in ARCA was raised. "If I could find the right kind of sponsorship to do it, I want to do it where I have a shot for the championship," said Brian Keselowski. "I want to go and win races and win championships, and that's what we've always been about. I don't want to go to a race and struggle and not have enough money for tires, and not able get the right motors and not do the right things you've got to do. Right now we're stuck running the short tracks."

Keselowski is an example of young talent being held back from accomplishing great things because of the logistics of today's racing. It takes money and resources and when you've got one, you can't win championships without the other.

But as Keselowski heads to the place where he won his first ARCA race, maybe this time, it'll draw the attention he deserves that'll put him on the path to accomplishing the ARCA championship dream.

Mike Harper is an ARCA RE/MAX Series contributor for SPEEDtv.com, and host of Inside the ARCA RE/MAX Series radio show on RaceTalkRadio.com.

RaceTalkRadio.com