Developmental drivers try to find a place in NASCAR

Like a kid going off to college, young racecar drivers face the same insecurities and fears as a student on campus.

The same taunting and ribbing freshmen receive from upperclassmen, young drivers such as Brad Coleman, Bryan Clauson and Landon Cassill receive from high-ranking Cup drivers around the garage.

Coleman tidbits

* Posted consecutive top-fives at Kentucky and Milwaukee and consecutive top-10s at Montreal and Watkins Glen in '07.

* Known for his bow in Victory Lane after his first ARCA Re/Max Series win in 2006.

* Avid guitar player and expert at "Guitar Hero."

On and off the track, they take their licks, endure the highs and lows of meeting expectations, and worry constantly if they can make the grade. If not, they flunk.

And unlike college, you can't squeak by with a "C" or retake the class. In NASCAR, the classes are more or less pass or fail.

Coleman, 19, a developmental driver initially hired by Joe Gibbs Racing, learned these facts early as he rode an emotional roller coaster for most of the 2007 season.

JGR signed the Texas native to drive in 17 of the 35 Busch Series races in 2007, and the rest of the time he found himself watching from the pit box as Aric Almirola, Kevin Conway and Tony Stewart took turns in the 18 car.

"That was difficult," said Coleman, who recorded three of the team's five top-fives and five of its eight top-10s. "But I understand it's part of racing."

Like being benched from the big game, Coleman was left wondering ... and waiting.

"The waiting is the hardest. I just go to the race shop, talk to my crew, work out and wait."

The lifestyle

As a member of the unofficial freshman class of NASCAR, Coleman, Clauson and Cassill would commiserate together about their struggles to find their footing as young drivers.

The pack, along with a handful of other young drivers, all forewent college after high school to make it in NASCAR's extremely competitive, money-driven arena.

Leaving friends and family behind, they moved to small apartments near race shops in North Carolina for a life on the road.

Most nights, the group gathers in Birkdale Village in Huntersville, N.C., the unofficial college campus for young drivers.

A plethora of fast-food chains, a dry cleaner's, Starbucks and a movie theater provides a sense of community for the drivers and a place to recharge from long weekends on the road.

"We go to Red Rocks [a local eatery and notable NASCAR hangout] a lot and talk about the weekend and where things are going. It's nice to have someone to talk to who you know is going through the same stuff you are," Coleman said.

"Yeah, we go to movies a lot or hang out and play video games at Brad's house," said Cassill, 18, whose grandmother moved along with him from Iowa to help with the transition.

Clauson tidbits

* Best finish in five Busch starts in '07 was 18th, at Memphis. Had an average finish of 24.8.

* In 2006, asked his teacher in Noblesville, Ind., for a hall pass so he could be excused from class to meet briefly with a potential sponsor.

* In January '07, signed on for a limited schedule in the No. 41 Memorex Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing.

The move to North Carolina has been a whirlwind but having friends and supportive teammates is what keeps Cassill together. Clauson, 18, agrees. He has forged great friendships during his short time as a developmental driver for Chip Ganassi Racing after leaving his home of Noblesville, Ind.

During 2007, competing in the ARCA Re/Max Series and Busch Series, Clauson experienced the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows. He learned the lessons of big business and even how to do his first burnout.

In August, he won his first ARCA Re/MAX Series race at Gateway International Raceway. Overwhelmed with excitement, the rookie driver took his car to the front stretch to perform the celebratory burnout.

"My guys radioed to me to do a burnout, but I said, 'Um, I don't know how to' so my team had to coach me through it," Clauson laughed. "Then they told me to go to Victory Lane and I said, 'Um, I don't know where that is.'"

Of course those were the fun lessons to learn, but nearing the end of his 2007 season, after competing in five Busch Series races, Clauson learned the business end of the sport.

The two final races of the Busch Series season, at Phoenix and Homestead, Clauson was taken out of the car in favor of A.J. Allmendinger after Ganassi reach an agreement with with Team Red Bull to give its Cup driver added seat time.

"The business part wasn't as fun," Clauson said, but he remained optimistic and supportive of his team. Like Coleman, he watched from the pit box and cheered like a spectator.

"In my mind, I was still there for my team and we were working toward the same goal. It was hard, but I trust Chip and what he has planned. It was what Chip felt he needed to do to be successful."

Looking forward to next season, Clauson is eager to learn more and gain the valuable seat time it takes to progress his young NASCAR career. He will share seat time in the No. 41 car with drivers Dario Franchitti and Reed Sorenson.

However, sponsorship may be a problem for Clauson as Memorex is no longer with the team and a new sponsor has yet to be secured.

Waiting game

More often than not, the lack of sponsorship or funding will keep a driver out of a ride, rather than the lack of talent.

"It's worrisome but I trust everything will be in place," Clauson added.

Waiting to see if you'll have a ride, a job, for next season is one of the hardest parts of being a driver, Coleman said. With few distractions or other responsibilities, Coleman spent many sleepless nights questioning the future of his career.

Cassill tidbits

* Best finish in six Busch starts in '07 was 18th, at Dover. Had an average finish of 26.0.

* Graduated early in '07 from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with academic honors and competed on the J-Hawks golf team.

* Sister, Echo, is a figure skater and brother, Zachary, is a Bass tournament fisherman.

• Conversation: Landon Cassill

Joe Gibbs Racing made it known late last season Coleman would not be re-signed, but in October he was hired by Brewco Motorsports (now Baker Curb Racing) to drive the No. 27 Ford full time in the 2008 Nationwide Series. (read more)

And only a few short weeks after signing with Baker Curb, Coleman signed another contract for a limited slate in the Cup Series late in 2008 with Hall of Fame Racing. (read more)

"I'm just extremely grateful for the way things have worked out," he said. "Racing is all I want to do and we made a lot of sacrifices to make it happen."

Cassill, who in December 2006 signed a developmental contract with Hendrick Motorsports and made six starts in the Busch Series as well as being a test driver in the Car of Tomorrow in 2007, will continue his progress in 2008 driving the No. 5 car in the Nationwide Series.

For now, he feels secure and confident he can perform up to Hendrick's gold standard. A student on the Hendrick campus can receive an Ivy League education when your tutors are Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

"I could write a book about all the great things Jeff Gordon has told me," he said. "He sat me down and told me he understands what I'm going through and that meant a lot to me. I have a lot of pressure to perform but I learned that I need to slow down, pay attention and don't worry about going fast. It's about finishing races right now."

Cassill and all the young drivers had their share of mistakes on the track in 2007, but it's how you learn from those mistakes, Cassill said, that makes you a better driver. During the September race at Dover, Cassill admits to wrecking his pal Coleman after hitting the wall and subsequently into Coleman.

"I called him and we talked and we're over it," Cassill said. "Brad laughs about it now, but I just try not to bring it up. But it was my fault and he's a good friend and he understands."

After the holidays, all the drivers will be back at their respective race shops working hard to maintain their rides and meet expectations.

"I'll be back at hit hard Jan. 5; I'm running the bulk of the [Nationwide] schedule next season," Cassill said. "I learned at lot in 2007 and I'm ready to learn more in 2008."

Other young drivers also are hopeful of making their marks in NASCAR. Most notably, JGR has two well-publicized up-and-comers.

Joey Logano, the 2007 Busch East champion and Toyota All-Star Showdown winner, plans to make his debut in the Nationwide Series in May at Dover, a week after he turns 18. Another teen sensation, Marc Davis, will remain in the Busch East Series in 2008 after finishing ninth in points in 2007.

Red Rocks is about to get busier.