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Brad Coleman -- and his guitar -- may be coming to an infield near you!

One-on-One: B. Coleman

By Raygan Swan, NASCAR.COM
August 27, 2007
04:25 PM EDT
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It's good to be Brad Coleman.

Why? Aside from posting top-five and top-10 finishes in his first 13 Busch Series events, the 19-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver lives above Ann Taylor and next door to Victoria's Secret. What more could a guy ask for?

Actually, a lot. The Houston native wants a full-time ride next season, race wins, a Nextel Cup championship ... you know, the usual.

Brad.Coleman.193.jpg

But in the meantime, he's enjoying his new bachelor pad in NASCARolina's Birkdale Village -- a neighborhood dozens of NASCAR newbies and young guns call home.

At the Starbucks around the corner from his apartment, NASCAR.COM grabbed a grande with the No. 18 driver and asked him 18 questions about this, that and the other:

So, Birkdale Village -- an outdoor mall with residential space above in Huntersville, N.C. Tell us more about his place ...

My bedroom window and my living room window point toward Victoria's Secret, so that helped in choosing which apartment I wanted. I moved here in early November; Stephen Leicht told me everyone lives here. I see Ray Evernham here all the time. I think Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne used to live here. I think maybe it's in your contract if you drive for Evernham that you have to live here. I see a lot of team owners around here as well.

What would the title of your biography would be... and why?

Brad Coleman: I couldn't decide what I wanted to drive so I drove everything

I wanted to drive as many things as I could so I could be prepared for the opportunity I got!

What's something your fans would be shocked to know about you?

I'm a little bit of a geek. I'm huge into technology and Harry Potter books and the game. I just beat the Harry Potter game on Playstation 3.

Do you have the new iPhone? And how many text messages do you average in a day?

Oh yeah, I love my iPhone. I have movies on here, concerts ... I send as many text messages as I physically can. I have to constantly clear the old ones out to make room for new ones. I have the unlimited plan, if that tells you anything. I'd rather text than call. Denny Hamlin is on his phone a lot too; at a test in Richmond, I saw him texting with his helmet on!

If you were Mike Helton for a day, what would you do?

I'd have another Montreal road-course race. Did you know they have a casino at the track? I like going up there. I went to go check out the casino at Dover and got kicked out. If I was Mike Helton, I'd make the gambling age 18.

Oh, and I'd make a 24-hour NASCAR race. Each team would run one car with all of their drivers competing and it would be in Montreal.

Last, the casino would be moved closer to the garage.

Do you have any hidden talents off the racetrack?

I play the guitar, electric and acoustic. I have three guitars at home and I took one to Daytona with me, but I don't play in public yet; I'm a little nervous, still. But I'd love to play a concert in the infield.

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Who do you take to the Busch banquet; Jessica Alba, girl next door, or your mom?

My girls next door are all old ladies, so scratch that one. In all reality, I'd probably take my mom, but I won't walk arm and arm with her. That would be embarrassing.

Dave Despain apparently called you the prototype NASCAR young gun of the future and SI.com ranked you the No. 2 Nextel Cup prospect. What are things you don't like to be called?

"I had to cook burgers for Stephen Leicht because I lost a bet and I didn't even eat my own burgers. I didn't trust myself."

Brad Coleman

Bradley, I hate that -- my name is Bradford. Everyone thinks my name is Bradley and it really ticks me off! Bradley, in my opinion, is a girl name.

Reading material of choice? What's on your coffee table right now?

Harry Potter! Some racing magazines ... Speedway Illustrated.

Got any quirky pre-race rituals you practice?

Not really; I'm not superstitious. Race day is so hectic, you don't have much time. I like to relax. One day I did play football on pit road with my crew. We threw the ball back and forth; it's kind of hard with all those pit road signs hanging up there, though. It was fun -- until I hit Greg Biffle's car. He didn't see it, though.

If you were ever to feud with a driver, who would it be and why?

J.J. Yeley ... he's my teammate but we get a little racey when we're out there. He's a nice guy off the track, but on the track he never gives me an inch of room.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years and provide detail ...

Retired! Kidding! Celebrating the 10th year anniversary of this question. ... I've always wanted to say that, the line from comedian Mitch Hedberg. But seriously, I will be in the Nextel Cup Series with maybe a championship under my belt and lots of race wins, hopefully.

We were told you have a strong faith. Tell us more.

My faith is a big part of my life. I'm a Christian and that's why I like Joe Gibbs Racing; we have Bible study every Monday. I enjoy going to the concerts in the infield at the track with MRO (Motor Racing Outreach) and talking to the fans and answering questions.

How did you come up with the Brad Coleman bow?

I was sitting around before the Kentucky ARCA race last year and I wanted to do something fun. I can't do a flip like Carl; I'd kill myself. Tony (Stewart) has the fence thing down. I wanted to do something that paid respect to the fans, so I bow to the crowd.

At times are you still a little star struck by the Cup drivers in the garage?

Yeah, definitely ... but it's not near as bad as it was. But sometimes I'm still too nervous to talk to them. I kind of want to get an autograph from some of them and say it's for a fan and then keep it for myself.

How'd you get such a yummy sponsor like Carino's Italian grill? Are you sick of eating there yet?

Of course I'm not sick of eating there; I'm lucky to have a sponsor that I actually like and don't have to fake it. If I had Olive Garden, I'd be in trouble. We've actually been trying to get (Carino's) as a sponsor for a while and they said call when you get to NASCAR. We're in NASCAR, so we gave them a call.

Can you cook?

No not all! I had to cook burgers for Stephen Leicht because I lost a bet and I didn't even eat my own burgers. I didn't trust myself. One of the crew members bit into one of them and I think it moo'd at him.

What's in your fridge?

A Brita pitcher and milk ... some times turkey and sometimes cheese.

The End

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